I Love You When You are Like This

I Love You When You are Like This

Martin Willitts Jr.

White river-birds lean into light,
stretching wings
in a bonfire morning sun.

I love it when you are this silent —
a thousand kisses of air,
a dream arriving from great distances.

At first, I notice
your eyes
gaining lamplight flame.

I love it when you are a voice winging
into my soul, bringing water-memory,
reminding me the quiet moments are necessary.

Even your curious smile
saying nothing,
says it all.

I love the way we move together,
the way rivers rush forward,
never backwards.

I love the dream that forms us,
extreme distances coming together.
I love the soft, yellow flame in your eyes.

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Martin Willitts Jr.
Poet

Martin won the 2014 Dylan Thomas International Poetry Contest. His 21 full-length collections include Blue Light Award 2019, “The Temporary World,” “Not Only the Extraordinary are Exiting the Dream World (Flowstone Press, 2022), “Ethereal Flowers” (Shanti Press, 2023), “Rain Followed Me Home” (Glass Lyre Press, 2023).

Photography by Stacey Koenitz