long has a cloak
long has a cloak of coarse wool
and wet feathers smothered my flight.
long has doubt and a thorny chain of words
caused my vision to stagger.
tired of my purple burden,
in search of freedom, i have longed to throw
off the gauze curtains and kisses
which bind me
my mouth so full of berries
and other people's tongues
my heart sick with thick hands and spittle
but there is a secret i do not tell you;
i have dulled my spark
and weakened my heart
so i could continue
to stay where i knew
i did not flourish
(there. it is said)
to stand new in the naked air
with no crutch, no pretty eye,
i leave not only you
but also the part of me
that fears my own song's truth.