Cartography

I am leaning in
I slowly, slowly peer down
Your hands steady me
but do not hold
My body anchors you
but I do not restrict
you are free to go
whenever you want
to move left, to move right
to throw me to the floor
and watch me cry
I have no claim
only a right to whimper
being that is of my nature

Lately I care only about verbs
especially the passive ones
that insinuate movement
but are just as still as you
and I
entwined

I am hovering
shadow boxing
I do not tell you
I want you to move
naturally
sinewy, a slow groove
along the paths and
inlets of your stream

I map you
I study, I sketch
I measure topographic features
enscripted in tree-vein script
and I admire form a far
and do not say
when you take my breath
for fear you won't return it