Poem for Saturday Morning
We must be still if we are to appreciate it
This vista blurs while running through that which we have come to expect
But the truth of life is that we are not in a fog
just moving too fast
Too many dinner parties and office meetings and cleaning up
puppies and tv and coordinating schedules with family
and watching your weight and getting the dry cleaning and
squeezing every second of the day because that is what we are to do
when we live life to the fullest
But it’s foolish. It’s unproductive and that’s why
I beg of you: be still beautiful girl.
Be still so I can see the first blue rays of morning
delighting on your skin.
Be still so I can see the individual, almost invisible
hairs that trace up your legs
Be still so I can see the folds of the comforter
covering up what I want
Be still so I can see the exact moment your eyes open
and this world comes to life
Move slowly in the morning, create space in movement
that fits between the inhales and exhales of your breath.
Move slowly and turn towards me—I must admit
I am no beauty, there’s not perfect reciprocity.
Hold your movement, let your eyes set on a piece of me:
the first gray whiskers amidst the brown and reds
the pterygium in my eye
the bald spot that has those same invisible hairs
that grace your legs
the smile when your eyes meet mine
Hold your movement, make your gaze fixed, plumb
my depths—you deserve this
I hope it’s more than consolation
Be patient—focus on the darkness—the pupils
those cute little abysses
I have a surprise for you yet
Let your eyes and mine dance with each other
Let your eyes see what’s there—you
blonde hair in the abyss
the cool blue light on your skin
See there is so much more than blackness.
the contrast reminds you that you are made
of stardust—how exquisite—that the practical
you’ve chased all your life is actually an illusion
it’s been holy since before the beginning
of time
suddenly the idea of infinity seems right
Eternity doesn’t have to do with time
Eternity is here in this instant seeing
you in me and _if you could see more
deeply there’d be a mirrored effect to this
infinity—something that makes you think of
the Aleph—but infinities are distanced by time
I’m sorry. Let me make you some breakfast.