On the River's Edge: A Queer Love Poem

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By Aiano Nakagawa
​AFO Content Writer

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Dedicated to my dear friend. One of my soulmates. One of the loves of my life. The one who has helped awaken my fire. The one who has seen the darkest depths of me and with a twinkle in her eye come in closer for more.

On the River’s Edge -

Me. On my belly. Sand slides between my thighs.
          Feet first - on the river’s edge.

Her. On my left. The same side as my heart.
          Belly toward the sun. Arms up. Hands cradle her head.

She draws the sun.
I draw the moon.
          We drink from the Three of Cups.

My heart in my gut
          beating. pounding up fear.

Four cigarettes.
Fully smoked.
Butts up. Half buried in the sand.

           One left.

The sound of metal on metal - click. click. whoosh.

Fire.
Inhale.

The last cigarette like an hourglass counting down the time.
I give myself until the end of its burn
         to her tell her
                 I love her.

We pass the timepiece between us

          I watch the distance between the ends disappear.

          I see time is running out.

          One last inhale -
                 I blow smoke toward the sky.

The words come out.

My body closes.
Hers. Stays open.