I was provoked,
because he was hiding his real self from me,
and would not continue
to be the man I loved.
— Tolstoy —
balances…
In life
one is always
balancing
like we juggle our mothers
against our fathers
or one teacher
against another
(only to balance our grade average)
3 grains of salt
to one ounce truth
our sweet black essence
or the funky honkies down the street
and lately I’ve begun wondering
if you’re trying to tell me something
we used to talk all night
and do things alone together
and I’ve begun
(as a reaction to a feeling)
to balance
the pleasure of loneliness
against the pain
of loving you
– Nikki Giovanni –
my dear friend…
My dear friend
never lose hope
when the Beloved
sends you away.
If you’re abandoned
if you’re left hopeless
tomorrow for sure
you’ll be called again.
If the door is shut
right in your face
keep waiting with patience
don’t leave right away.
Seeing your patience
your love will soon
summon you with grace
raise you like a champion.
And if all the roads
end up in dead ends
you’ll be shown the secret paths
no one will comprehend.
The beloved I know
will give with no qualms
to a puny ant
the kingdom of Solomon.
My heart has journeyed
many times around the world
but has never found
and will never find
such a Beloved again.
Ah I better keep silence
I know this endless love
will surely arrive
for you and you and you.
translated by Nader Khalili
siren song…
elsewhere
later
under cover
breast against your ribs
still warm
ripe
she enters our room
on windless calm
the fertile earth
and spreading plain
of her promised land
whispers
(and how the lyre plucks)
across continents and over seas
lapping
lapping
lapping
waves of heart’s content
bound tight ’round her mast
sail on
a wiser man
and leave me sleep
– Lola Moi –
