a voice and a smile

surely, i saw you,
passing the high voltage lines,
a voice and a smile
climbing up ladders
or stairs

surely, i saw you,
digging the old forsaken mines,
a voice and a smile
walking down subterranean passages
or lairs

surely, i must not stomach all of this,
this guitar must strum
instead of hiss
a string of words
sound like a drum,
and churn like a kiss
what a turn of abyss
i choke

and fingertips,
and fingertips!
bring me plums
and some figs
memory fails me, o fingertips
ephemeral to some,
the way they spoke
remains to me kingdom come
slipping through my grip
at the end of my wit
a voice, a smile
and fingertips