at their most distant
your eyes swim below the surface
dive to pearls
return blazing
fire above the horizon

even in kindess
your eyes offer resistance
abandon the middle ground
become ramparts
soldier on

wherever i meet them
i retreat to the middle distance
and sortie forward with eyes fixed
or lurk pridefully out of range
or just wait
recording comings and goings

will i always seek
them out when you are furthest
and avoid them
in our deepest intimacy