some people are fire
consuming, burning
hot and needy
greedy
you may mistake
their warmth and glow
may get too close
they will engulf you
scald your flesh until
you’re a sloughing mess
of bone and ragged breath
when their desire fades
so do they
a fizzled goodbye, smoke
burns your melting eyes
some people are wind
twirling your hair
whispering they care
more than all the rest
they’re a tempest
they’re a soft breeze
adapting with ease
to suit their needs
they’ll corrode you
cut right through you
wear you down so slowly
you don’t realize you’re eroding
when they disappear
you’ll see them so
so clearly
some people are earth
practical
stable, boring
embedded in your shoes
a muddy, messy view
always from the bottom
they’ll get under your nails
soiling skin with stubborn
sodden details
it takes grit
to unload yourself
of their heavy weights
and in that place
you’ll stand on your own
solid ground
some of us are water
don’t you want to be drenched
in bottomless depths
quenched
refreshed
rippling intuition
flowing from inhibition
cascading sensitivity
roaring waves pouring
over wet bodies
the current a strong reminder
of the ever-present now
though…
if you cannot tread the depths
you’ll surely drown
