Michael McNeilley was not only my lover and my friend, he was also a poet whose words deeply touched my heart, as well as the hearts of countless others. I am honored that he chose me to be his "last love," as he was fond of calling me. Although I miss him, it is a comfort in this time of immeasurable loss to know his poetry lives on ... the dream continues.

Rest in peace, Michael. I will always love you.
Elaine Thomas

you think I love the words
and I do love the words
would have to be crazy
not to love the words
but this is not about words really
or at least words are only
a part of this
whatever this is

I can no longer see clearly
what this is because I am
no longer looking in
a window at the bodies

I am inside the body
where your lips and hands go
after all the words have been said
when a look from you says
we are beyond all that now
there is nothing left
to hide behind or hide from
here let me slide this silk
up over your head and let's
lie down together
be together without clothes on
for days weeks years
however long it takes
to get underneath
which is a lot to say without words
but you are every bit as eloquent
without them as with them

and I realize now
how little I realized before
when I was still looking in
imagining what it could be like
because this is not like it
this is it
whatever this is