softest auburn flame
burns hotest mid-july
and fans an ember still
from days of yore
when fiddle met
with banjo
banged a basement floor
as two by two
their feeble hearts
were worn

beneath a shaft
of fading light
vanilla burnt to butter
said I love you more
than once a night
lips to hover just above
the meet of wing to wonder
arms to reach
as buttons came
undone

eyes lit up
with wondering
where the dance might take
and would the lantern last
the coming dawn
pardon me the moving in
dirty floors forgiven
a bell hangs silver leaf
above the frame

tempted claim
of candlelight
violin and whispers
memories of turning round –
two by two
by one