We Want It Now

The stars are out beyond, too far to touch.
We are here, too close together for words
To separate or destroy as we clutch
This too brief moment before the night turns

Its back upon us. Leaving us alone.
And dancing all around us are the songs
That led us to starlight and this unknown
So still moment that will lead us beyond

That room, those emptied glasses, talk and far
Too many slow sad songs to play us out
To where we can recognise every star
Before the sudden shock of mouth on mouth

And touch the warmth of someone else’s skin.
For once the fresher air will not help us
Nor make us wiser. What will here begin
Is a mistaken falling into lust

That both of us will often feel the need
To curse and to regret, to look back on
As years go by, and wonder at the deed
And what could grow from this small brief concord.

And, even though we both do know quite well
It is not what we want, we want it now.
We kiss as though beginning can dispel
The fear that this is something free of doubt.

You take my hand and lead me to your room.
You close your curtains on the watching stars
Before you turn and we meet in the gloom
Dispelling doubt within each other’s arms.

So eager for this you do not desire,
A need you feel but do not need, but now
We are together ‘til we quench these fires
That burn all reason and all our old vows.

So, even as you clothes fall to the floor
You look back at the door and wonder why
We are here, trapped together, washed ashore
In some new world begun anew tonight.

And then we fall apart to lie alone
But side by side, and knowing that there will
Be nothing said, except to now atone
For these mistakes we make by being here.

We wait for dawn to reach its fingers down
To pull us out to face the day’s sharp stare,
Apart again to meet the morning town
That does not know what happened here, or care.