like the pyramids, robbed by their own building crew
or the bluewhite moon against dark city streets,
against bodies. To be alone or to be loved?
Waiting, the usual wants:

of care, of your touch, or that certain dense smile.
I made myself late. You,
you hardened my heart. Think pizza crusts
instead of gold jewels, mummified
victual pets. Each artifact 
a represented prayer.

The air conditioning, the darkcold room,
the boxes of delivery food
crowd around: a modern-age sandstone tomb.
The smell, incense: fresh pains,
our quiet gaps. You build. You bow.