Striking Distance

By blanche nonken

close
close as your eyes

close as the beating of your heart
within arm's reach, in my arms
striking distance

in my arms last night, your eyes glowing
hands still as stone, eyes burning
and touching, I cannot feel
striking distance

only contact
snake bite distance
skin-thin distance

heart beat, fist brushes by
gentle as yesterday's hand brushing my hair
a waft of heat, skin scent, blood scent
dangerous eyes, dangerous distance
striking distance