I
Ceremonious and
glandular, rancor’s
king reports
a wide
tangent for
his aim,
posthumous servant
as are
all good
works, lifting
gentle memory
to overwhelm
butchered endings.
Pavia’s darkness
attends. Speak
merciful words.
II
Re-inventing love,
lovers circle
round an
arbitrary sun:
preparatory to
kissing, throat
or clavicle
laid bare
with delicate
movements, texture
sufficing. He
mimics her
desire, tickling
both brown
nipples with
his tongue.
III
Word and
version, faithless
acts of
sweet exegesis,
excruciating pleasure
of these
discovered loves.
Planets return,
mirrored. Close
involvement of
their tides
and trials
diverts us,
death preceding
upon our
every love.