Villanelle For Valentine's Day

Villanelle for Valentine’s Day Remember we danced to Charlie Parker on the dorm-room floor? Our hearts were staccato and wouldn’t heed a rest, And I read you a poem: tides crashing my love into your shore. Gentle jazz carried us, on currents, across the floor, Your laugh against my cheek from my whispered jest When we danced to Charlie Parker on the dorm-room floor. My heart was bass booms, it was something you could not ignore. It beat with a mallet, a roller falling against your breast, And I read you a poem: tides crashing my love into your shore. You heard mine, your heart always singing to implore, My rhythm was awful, steps stuttered, it was not my best When we danced to Charlie Parker on the dorm-room floor. Finally I began to dance, to float, knowing it was your Heart that I heard, singing over tides’ waves’ crest, So I read you a poem: tides crashing my love into your shore. Our dance was a music, a tide we could not ignore, On my shoulder, my heart, you took your rest, As we danced to Charlie Parker on the dorm-room floor. And I read you a poem: tides crashing my love into your shore.