Take These and Bind Them to Your Heart

 

 

Take these
and bind them to your heart
As a priestess might keep the name of her god,
mingled with the scent of cloves and frankincense,
in an amulet between her breasts.
Hold them in your secret place - 
  empty as the inner space of the rose's bloom-
Longing, glistening like polished amber ---

My hands along the River of your back;
My fingers swimming in your hair;
My lips like flowers on your throat
  or at the gate of your mouth seeking entry.
Fingertips that seek your breasts, your flanks, 
  your eyes,
Pluck at your dark harp until you fall, singing
  in ragged exultation, into the tingling well;
My breath that hides behind your ear . . .
  or teeth . . . or tongue . . .of tip of nose.
The rasp of beard on thigh and my hands
  on your hips like falcon's grip or on
that spot where bottom meets thigh.
Oiled fingers crease your back, knead your
calves, grip and pull at the sweet taffy
  of your body.

And most especially take this - 

The part of me which disappears from view
  goes into you,
Part of me no more, goes into you
to seek and rage and weep
In darkness only you can compass,
know and heal.

 

January 7, 1993