The One Three Eight

Girls with their backs to me, six feet tall, 

waiting for a train–

like Alps that form on Essex Street,

or waterfalls that roar

black and blonde, incessantly,

from crown to curve before

majesty of shoulders’

granite mixed with grandeur; pour

into my fixed ear

music scored to vanquish

the error of my lust

in a universe of queer

power made to awe

elementary creatures–       

stoop; slide closed the doors

Love and Power

“How are we supposed to behave?”– 
this question you asked so frequently...

“All of the things I’m responsible
for, haunt me in incompletion” :

I remember you when you were less benign,
though also more displayed.

“In the event you find me raving, some
murderous foam floating from my
mouth, remember that once I loved
justice and other strangers,
until I lost my faith
that I was not alone” :

lack efficacy, lack faith.

“Somewhere there must be a power that moves
the righteous with sly assurance
to the accomplishment of their aims.”

Somewhere there must be love
wed to adequate power.