love she said

you throw that word about as if
it had never hurt you.

sibilant on the phone, trying
to express god in human terms.

you're too positive by half. she said.
for a man in your shoes.

so you took them off.
placed them above and behind
the places she wanted to go.

you can't take any of it with you
except love--soft, sure, sincere.

she said what makes you think
you can take that? the moon
under the clouds, shining despite rain.