the night before

they crossed his bed
deep
in the devil’s night
fire light
at a wet cincinnati intersection
filled with red flashes
and sirens wailing
through a balmy autumn mist
he ran his hands through her hair
down her back and thighs
upon skin so smooth
he shuddered
as he entered her
she
pulling bobby pins
from her twist
tossing them onto his floor
proclaiming she planned to leave them there
he vowed to respect their place
for the rest of his life
then laughter came
as they pulsed together
bracing the headboard
into i love yous
notions of china patterns
the calendar correct
for bassinets
and wearing white