2.  Circumference

When I straddled your lap so

you like a good father and mother could

hold and see me while everything happened

while I sang the pure ah to myself

and to you, everything in my eyes

everything in my breath nothing

apart; and knelt to open my mouth to

you most tireless brother all

hands all play, nearest sister

all lips and whispers, you best

child entirely in me:

that was the circle.

3.  Liebestraum

i.

If I compare you to that

Shadow, you were less

faithful;  compared to the mercy

of that eclipse:  less faithful.

ii.

But dreaming of holding you

and unable to fuse, I

mean:  now you are like

them, dead like them.

Gone like them.

Like I like them.

iii.

Now you can wear

the robe of the gatekeeper

which so becomes you.

iv.

I find easily a coat to cover

     me and keep in

my warmth, though the fair

lining showing at wrist and throat

     will reveal signs

of contact with my skin.  It takes

a long search among shoes made

     for show, to find

a pair that may be good for walking.

v.

Remains only to cut

with restraint, only through

the skin, of my right wrist

and pull off the glove

of skin, leaving structure

intact, since it was

only touch offended.

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