we sit together
across from each other
the philosophy paper
between us
the book
between us
and we work through
the platonic dialogue
with all those ideas
that seem deep
and funny
and you take notes
and you laugh
and you smile
and you get up to get me
a glass of water
and I watch your hips roll
as you walk into the kitchen
and I think
how small you are
small enough to be picked up
to be carried through your house
though
your parents
in the other room
might not appreciate that
you return with my water
smiling
and we get back to work
then we slip into talk about
english class
and the girl who has literary friends
who was trying to one-up
the teacher
and you slide my glass over
between us
and you arrange your notes
between us
and this is as close as we
get
Words and Feathers 