In the middle watches of the night, after he entered me for the first time and I arched under his long slim body and set my teeth against his neck and we came together hard, after we had lain about limply, stunned, for a while, I was so warmed by the friendship and humanity of the connection. At the tenderness and affection you can feel for someone you don't know well when you have mindfully decided to open the physical channel. Yes, it means that now there's an open channel, and we have to figure out what travels through it, and how and when and what now.
That's okay. I'm not worried. As my dear friend says, "It's not like I can be broken. And love? I hear they're making more of it."
I think most twenty-somethings have only heard the bloodless, juiceless 10,000 Maniacs cover of this song. Listen to the real version, to Patti in her youth singing about desire and vulnerability and the courage to want.
The night belongs to lovers, not cuddlers.
take me now baby here as I am
pull me close, try and understand
desire is hunger is the fire I breathe
love is a banquet on which we feed
come on now try and understand
the way I feel when I'm in your hands
take my hand come undercover
they can't hurt you now,
can't hurt you now, can't hurt you now
because the night belongs to lovers
because the night belongs to lust
because the night belongs to lovers
because the night belongs to us
have I doubt when I'm alone
love is a ring, the telephone
love is an angel disguised as lust
here in our bed until the morning comes
come on now try and understand
the way I feel under your command
take my hand as the sun descends
they can't touch you now,
can't touch you now, can't touch you now
because the night belongs to lovers ...
with love we sleep
with doubt the vicious circle
turn and burns
without you I cannot live
forgive, the yearning burning
I believe it's time, too real to feel
so touch me now, touch me now, touch me now
because the night belongs to lovers ...
because tonight there are two lovers
if we believe in the night we trust
because tonight there are two lovers ...
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