The Gecko and I

There you are,

faithful to the ceiling,

your eyes threatening even in the liquid dark.

How many times

my heart’s shuddered at your gaze,

soundless, still,

a silence so fearful

I flee the room.

When my spirit’s high,

I nearly forget you.

When I have a drink,

as night ‘s silk falls on my shoulders,

my striding legs feel elegant.

But when I see you,

shy, mild thing,

I lose my way.

You stare, I stare,

our gaze locks

across an abyss, alien souls

who’ll never know

the other’s pain.

The nest of your dreams

can’t be the desert of my heart,

yet both cast their shadows on the wall.

How long have I slept? Meeting you

stuns me helpless.

Some strong hands might dare

your touch, but those tiny paws

chill me more than a monster’s.

Move, gecko, move.