bengal

as the silkened yarn is spun
the mighty wealth of kingdoms rising
into the crevice down her back
as she walks, a bengal,
striped with her prized memorial shadows
fulfilling contrasts of her beaming
with moonlight streaming orbits of her stare

she tells me it's understandable that i doubt

currents surged into beyond
from beyond
as motion of meek
united with power of passionate
to be swallowed
into that abundant allowance
the gesture, to the world, that is her

to always allow this fledgling dream
a chance to breathe and beat a pulse
is to open doors to oneself
for rain to torrent into

i am digesting this cream
that is that hopscotch of her arrival
and her beckoning, dear friends, is brilliant
tossing tears from me towards sea

her taste - marrows mutiny
her tenderness - my confidant
her touch - my fire extinguisher
quelling infernos abreast cathedrals of insignificance
to master her hurricane by smiling
to stand down her tornadoes by kneeling
to channel her flood by floating
is to tremble nonetheless

while clearing this deck of regret
making room for a life of belonging

Author's Note

constructed august 2003

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is an amazing expression of being mesmerized by another person. I absolutely LOVE the reference to "Bengal" in the first stanza, but I kinda wish it would've been carried thru-out the poem a little more, becuz it's such a memorable & striking image. I love "the crevice down her back" -- one of those observations that's rarely noticed in real life, but which is powerful here.

Far & away my favorite:
to always allow this fledgling dream
a chance to breathe and beat a pulse
is to open doors to oneself
for rain to torrent into
(absolute perfection)

I also love the "taste . . . tenderness . . . touch" treatment in the last stanza, becuz the form is such startling departure from the rest of the poem, it makes the reader sit up & take notice. Plus, I just love that you detail these things which are so sensory & delightful in being with another person one cares about. All in all, great glimpse into an animalistic attraction! *smile*