this is the house that held my love
growing in the middle
adapting to our needs
it sits in a whisper
and tries as it might
not to get in the way of us

my hands were full of berries
scorched by the newborn air
and for a brief moment I hung by
indeterminate
waving about, however gracefully
while you spoke again
to a lovely rabbit
who may be wild
did you see how I smiled to reassure you?

no more a dense tangle
out of the sight of stars, twinkling
unafraid of the sacrifice
it was enough to scatter grace upon
a monster with rusting teeth who asked
why name it at all?
no more honeyed kisses nor
comforts found upon the altar
but a certain sense of folly
governs the public
it is enough that I call her mine
and above the night shone

My mirror is full of soft clouds
that may surprise you
their subtle qualities cast shadows
around my heavy head and ask
what might the darkened night intend
it is surely sacred to ironic nymphs
and the moon
whose night ambassadors
glow across the winds

a tender cheek
being ill-qualified and virginal
can admit sadly that
nothing much happened
but the pale beats of a jumprope
counted out the letters so
now I know your name
and that is some comfort
at a glance the horses offer
a wilderness
my aristocracy is hardening
landed within the seasons, intermittent
the sky secured a safe space grimly
the world rose and fell
and wore the hue of heaven

I am yellow, rooted
never quite knowing
just how near we might have come
to one another, yet
I thought that I loved as much
by saving all my punishments
to buy this one small island
with some thirty-five souls
brought back to life and for a time
we forgot our differences and instead
fought with shadows for well over a year

now things have greatly changed
where once there was sufficient distance between my guests and I,
room enough to unfold the great thoughts between us
and chairs for all to sit upon
in a glassy calm October

the winds blew rude
along our smooth and sandy beach
though they were surely never worth
my dusty tears

Instead I have been feasting
for some time not quite alone
with the little madame
in the doorway
and where the light has bit my hand
I placed the saucer down before her
I knew she understood my desire
to touch a nodding swallow
prone to fly very low
in spite of callow breezes
and wore both a rare crown,
and an indistinct expression

They hurried after me
pattering like angels’ wings
but it was of no use
asking for so much
the stars were pinned onto a blue felt sky
and the white hot moon let fall a small strip
upon which my fortune had been written gamely

I shouted again at the too-tired birds
open this garden’s gate
and let me see within!

nobody can see us
wasting our days
grinning in a desperate way
within this light
I became aware of strange feelings
of some bleak magic
and alone felt a melting from within
as one might turn around
waiting to compose a beautiful letter
desperate amongst the daffodils