The morning cascades

With leather heels and olive coats and numbed fingers curled around smoke

I fell into it, a droplet in a glassy current, a river spooled from white paper;

But you did not.

For half a held breath you preened soft ivory wings

For half a held breath I'd believe your skin was gemstone, impenetrable, drenched in brilliant jewel-blood tones; exotic cat's-eye emerald

Before you slip

Back into the melting pot, and

For that, I envy you.