you who are beauty
stolen from the moon’s mansion
a dress the color of coral

to hold one close
is to burn with longing
while your duty is calling you away

so remember
that all my arrows are broken
and you are the compass
that leads men to freedom

believe in tigers
for their smile is wider than
two elephants kissing

almost a minute has passed
yet without the raft of god
no man can ever return to land

the shore is lonely
without your heart
so hurry and lift up
the rocks that have fallen

remember that once bitten by this mosquito
a mountain will grow from your soul’s exhalation
and reach the sun by morning’s official dawning

give way to the peaceful blessing
or sing me to sleep while i am expecting
dreams to caress me
and utter my name in your dizzying voice
music is the throats way of filling itself with joy

loops from your ear
sting like the water
on a cold pacific beach
I jump from those cliffs into rivers of speech

instant release is ready for you
if you are willing to help yourself
to a second serving of madness

relatives drift like targets
before your eyes
treat them like savages
and voice savage longing
for kindness and lightning bugs to carry
while you were left waiting
in the days before
we knew each other’s eyes