love lightly

ii.

childhood

This is the present—
I undress
until all that is left

are the mere words
you have sent;
they are beads of dew

that have formed
from the touch of light
along the roman column

of my spine,
along my unperturbed
hairline, ruffled by the wind;

a trail so placid,
kittens of white, gold and brown
rest in its shade.

I like my body,
for it has been tinged
by the same sun

that has greeted you
every waking hour
of your boyhood

with a kiss
so drowsy,
so motherly.

You have given
this kiss
to the forehead

of the smothered youth in me
and I exuded rosy joy of girlishness
that had been muted and fettered

every waking hour
and small hour
of my girlhood.

I can now cling
to my promise of
calmness and seriousness

within the curtains of romance
and with humbleness receive it,
with argan oil pamper it

like my body,
like your words,
like your manhood.

࿐