from Gift and Verdict: IV

from Gift & Verdict IV


•••

A reverence in the order of time arises now some undersurface
into silk geometries of here therefore
observing this swerve
of lawful aim as pliant capacity curls
into what could be weeks of this unlikely touch

deserving tongue's synod plead the hereinafter
unto shores kept safe between the pages
of an ark outlive us
—escape and case in point—

render unshaven this day our cupped hands
unsure along the lilt of jaw rejoin

your collarbone | allure made
known and roseate and hollow
in the shape of lissome night

recede to surge again | my throat
moan in the fraught mind
and bodily intentions of is

this a kiss | a headswell grin of abandoned
contiguity of mouths
glide drunk with persuaded hearts'
surrendering apparel am I
watching these soft drawn
tenses of fragrant beige
or so inside your amulet anatomy

If there's no jeopardy to
these offices of the flesh
—jewel pressed against
this all-involving spot—


then it's a rapture uncertain
this company rare

and where on the horizon was it
over the summer so
numb therewith
now a winter hum
of knowing a science
something no
one need notice

if this is gift-given
or spellbound or
a thievery | else
this is dumb-struck
and falling asleep there
outside
of this rattle shall we gather
my vanguard of god
as we pleasure on
the other edge
of this election year
my luminary

in whose rogue
nation to imagine
a commonwealth
is to make impossible
any casualty
in this occurrence


Roberto Tejada