To Scherazade: Teller of Tales

Lying here these thousand nights, these torches dimming, these pillows crushed, our minds softened by the hours and these cups of wine— by the wildness of your tales, your way with words, yet feeling this moment like sand falling through the glass come to this. You came to me that night. sent by your father,…

Love, Poems

From Poems of Farewell: To Sleeping Beauty

For all these years— has it been a hundred yet, you’ve slept in a tower high above the world. No one could crawl through these thorns, these vines, these obstacles to wake you. I’ve come before– not even knowing you– and stood here by this wall, looking up, straining for some way to penetrate these…

Love, Poems

Four Poems of Farewell: Don Quixote to His Lady

On bended knee I bow, madam. I have charged over hills, my helmet gleaming, and fought heroically in the madness of my love for you. I have galloped hard and leaped high walls, your name bleeding down my chin. I have sung your name to the stars, madam, sonnets torn from my heart, as I…

Love, Poems

Suspended (For Now But Not Forever)

Like soft Ocean blue,A pair of two,So deep, immense,Staring, killing me slowly, suspense. Two vital parts,Another two hearts,Captured, suspended in time,Nothing matters as long as you’re mine. Such a simple task,But how? I ask,Do I grow wings and fly,High up in the sky? Suspended in air,But I don’t give a care,All I want is you.Forget…

Love, Poems

Ice Elation

I awake and find you– same hard-knuckled rappingOf deadened boughs wind-stormed against the pane–Perched, insolent and knowing, on my mind’s sill, Preoccupied with your thumb, some crumpet-crumbOr, heaven help us, the pungent remainsOf an amorous trophy. How’d you sneak past All those cobwebs, I wonder? I’ll make coffee,Wipe the snot from my eyes and try…

Lesbian, Love, Party, Poems