like when we
facing
the sea turned
away from each other
sinking into sand
and spoke

you asked
what are you
thinking and i
frozen
made something
up

i am sorry
about this
what i was thinking
was so much
simpler which
could have been

"i am
thinking of you"
and
if you’d asked
for specifics
"that you are

beautiful”

how simple how
true how could i
not say
such a thing
to your face
those brilliant
eyes that brilliant
mouth
the light
tracing
your jawline
brilliant skin
of your face
smooth
as a wave

Erin McIntosh is a writer and actress currently living in Los Angeles. Her poetry has appeared and is forthcoming in various journals including Bone Bouquet, Lavender Review, Hawai’i Review, Plenitude Magazine and Pine Hills Review.