Moonless Night, A Sonnet

This night falls forever in slow, slower waves
like a silence stuck in air, stuck hot in chest,
unable to find the phrase which saves
us from cut-up tongues, obsidian-wrapped breast.

Watch traffic criss-cross on highway, your golden eyes
and lips like a bed, take all needed, close eyes against
purpling day to wish everything would erase, dries
out of aching heart (so red), no longer be unrest.

Watch time flow without filling us full, me, vacant
in my own body, suspended limbo without you near,
not deserving or confused if–soft mistaken
limbo, mouth or mind or touch a fading smear,

same as catching or swallowing quicksilver,
do your eyes close before walking into river?