When You Want Me I will Come

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“I just can’t stop writing songs about you, I love you so much….If I don’t see you real soon baby girl I might go insane. I know it’s only been three hours but I love it when you call my name.”--  Prince in Call My Name

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That glass sliding door has become my best friend

Allowing me to steal a glimpse of you

Without really looking at you

The ache in my loins more intense now

As I shutter to think it could be only me

Wanting you and you not wanting back

How is it that you take up so much space

In my thoughts now, every minute of every day

You were not there before

Why have you come?

Why won’t you come

With me to that place where doves fly

And men and women catch each other’s eye

And become lovers for no other reason

Than because they want to be

But I am no fool

And realize that it is more complicated than that with you.

I fear being alone with you,

Being separated only by air

With your hair calling me

With every twirl you give it nervously

Yes my dear, it is good for you

To be afraid, be very afraid

Of this woman who has wet dreams

And walks in her sleep

And effortlessly unlocks doors

Of highly guarded hearts

Did you know that

You call my name every second of every day.

That you have waited for me

All of your life

And yet haven’t a clue that I am finally with you.

And on that first night

When only air separates us

I will come to you

Kiss you right in the middle of your brow

In the center where the third eye resides

I will stroke you there with my lips

Without ever touching you

And when you sigh

Wondering what just happened

I will retreat and look to the ground

For I am much too shy

To accost you like that

Without permission

Yes, my love, I will wait

Till you give me the go ahead

No, you must not say a word

But the movements of your eyes,

Your tongue

Your lips

Must communicate your lust, your need

Else I will disappear back

Into the dark recesses of your mind

And become locked again

Inside your lifelong fantasy

To have a woman to love you

To touch every damn inch of you

With kisses lighter than air

With fingers like sensors detecting

And reflecting the essence of your being

I will wait

Until you are ready

To love me back

Then I will close the gap

Get all up inside the air

Separating us now

Exorcise the fear

In your heart

In mine

When love shows up

Knocking as it is wont to do

Have your tea in hand my love

As I pray God

It will not be hot,

That neither of us

Gets burned

When the air between us

Becomes ignited by the spark or our desire,

And we feel the heat, see the flames,

Flames that leave us

Before the night is out

To fend for ourselves.

But for now, dear heart,

Just know that…

When you want me,

I will come.

Contemporary African American Poetry