wholesome

wrinkles

wrinkles 

and

stretch marks

and love handles

i handle with love

the handles

and even the remaining two 

above

i see me differently as i

realise

that i am capable of seeing you

differently

that i see these differently

that your imperfections

don't exit

not for me

and just to use that word

is a thought crime

so this i will do

scratch it out

tear it out

burn it out

out of our dictionary
and every other 

because really

moans

and rasps

and licks

and feels

and my hands running 

through the meadows

of your body

your body

in its entireness

can never be that

it is different

i know that you can tell

i know you know how

different

different from how others may see you

or not see you

at all

but

then again

there isn't room enough 

for others

there is just room

for the two of us

on those wrinkles

and stretch marks

and love handles

and those birthmarks

and moles

and cuts and bruises

and scars

which have found a permanent

home

on your skin

i curl around their length

i espouse their breadth 

i move in circles

with a mild sense of ecstasy

building up

rapidly

and a full-blown sense of

a conclusion

foregone

around their circumference

with shaky

want-filled fingers

oozing desire

at the fingertips

i count them

these wrinkles

and stretch marks

and make constellations

joining one mole

to that scar

hoping

at least one 

would spell my name

like a man blinded with love

only that i'm not

i read them in braille

that i see these

i see these differently

clearly

endearingly

with wide open eyes

i search for our stories

and time spent together

which bloomed into

countless memories

and i only ask you to turn around

and lie on your stomach

because i wish to read

i wish to read more of it

all of it

uninterrupted

and i shall make 

ivory boats out of 

your birthmarks

and set us aboard them

and set us to sail

far away

deeper 
into 

us

birthmarks

and love handles

and those stretch marks

and moles

and cuts and bruises

and scars

and wrinkles

wrinkles

bookmarks
of our time together
folded
heedfully
in satin sheets
of our combined flesh
i shall keep