Once Lover

the thin skin of your joints
was like blushing snow peaches
who would not wish to break that film?

and your teeth, slight and pearly
and daring deep ridges
a fine place to pool rare sweetnesses

the fruit that hangs heavy
to brush summer’s bed of moss
is pregnant with rich taste

and it may be a gift
from the nodding palms of nature
to suggest her finest currents

drawn free with a lust
from our yeilding black Earth
her deep mineral treasure

+ + +

reading Marquis de Sade
I lifted dripping black roots to
taste your lovely pink nape

until you slid from my arms
and the aching kisses you received
mingled with the tepid bath

a bird whistled all afternoon
sang the sun low to its purple couch
and will not see its kin in dark

oh sweet, sweet girl
I do not love your impatient trills
more than these unseen stars

and of what use your thorny speech
when set to my brutal unknowing
of the infinite stare of Cygnus?


-Luc Mehmel