Stigmata

nerve & the calligraphied
not quite the presence of armor
nor clay the object of a sculptor’s madness;

a sparrow’s awe is unheard,
just out of range

“emergency”

planted seeds in the tumbleweeds,
called you “father” & sung of the universe
As a manifestation of one man’s rage.

Antiquity Series 1

Thought

My love wears no martyred skin,

is breathlessness in a kiss, & thinness

in the fingers’ lithe

the beckoned O’ & at first thought

the consumption of you

is nearly Keats,

Dear: it kills me...

...to succumb would do nothing

But attenuate the wait

The Cure "Last Dance"

I'm so glad you came
I'm so glad you remembered
To see how we're ending
Our last dance together
Expectant
Too punctual
But prettier than ever
I really believe that this time it's forever

But older than me now
More constant
More real
And the fur and the mouth and the innocence
Turned to hair and contentment
That hangs in abasement
A woman now standing where once
There was only a girl

I'm so glad you came
I'm so glad you remembered
The walking through walls in the heart of December
The blindness of happiness
Of falling down laughing
And I really believed that this time was forever

But Christmas falls late now
Flatter and colder
And never as bright as when we used to fall
All this in an instant
Before I can kiss you
A woman now standing where once
There was only a girl

I'm so glad you came
I'm so glad you remembered
To see how we're ending
Our last dance together
Reluctantly
Cautiously
But prettier than ever
I really believe that this time it's forever

But Christmas falls late now
Flatter and colder
And never as bright as when we used to fall
And even if we drink
I don't think we would kiss in the way that we did
When the woman
Was only a girl