I
What if one day I say, Love
I’m tired of this pretend-perfection
What if that day I unwrap
My silky silhouette
Unhook my gold earrings
Scatter my pearl necklace
Unknot my braids of reason
Only to show you
My scarred forehead
Muddied hands
Bruised knees
My bright doll-house
What if I sing you songs
To crack open your heart
That day and ever after
Would you me love?
II
Does she know or doesn’t she?
The scar on her forehead is
the moon of the 14th night
her eyes are the sun of spring equinox
her only scarf mirrors the constellation
her glow is the breeze of valley orchards
her labors the brooks of alpine mountains
her child-like weeping the song of the lark
her spurned love the rainbow
her secret musings God’s word
her restless soul —
O God absolute sovereign
be merciful
Would she care or won’t she?
III
What do I do in this abyss of inactivity
Where my heart is stone
My eyes are hit by drought
My mind is self-serving
My body is a mannequin
My soul will not soar
No dreams come
Intent or content
I have nothing
You care for nothing
You value obsoletes
Accept me to amaze me
Be angry
Rage
IV
We
Both
Have
Been
Consistent
Me
Sinning
You
Forgiving
I
Want
You
To
Win
***