The Undressing: Poems

, I taught you to renounce violence.

I taught you love means to vest your interest

in the outcome of the other.

Desire means deriving

pleasure from the other.

I taught you to distinguish

poison from elixir, salt from decay.

Inheritor of the sign of the violent

and the victim,

I awaited my true bride.

Then, and now, the wind

in the trees makes the sound

of the turning pages of our nights and days,

are as close to us as breathing, yet

You are farther than the farthermost star.

ones decorated with stars

are dividing our futures among them.

this child knows to be silent, knows

not all elders are wise.

I heard my name, and I turned and ran

The wind is leafing through both of our histories,

looking for a happy ending.

And his life

grows shorter

each day he grows taller.

he’s easily distracted by birds

in each day’s margins. T