†

With a voice like incense, Love loves through us,
     whispers fragrant as paradise as it
     touches what doubt drapes in secrets, the truth
     that it desires us more than we deny
     ourselves, and more when we try to lift up
     the veil keeping apart, with darkness, what
     we trust and let dusk divide its dark cloak
     over instead, uncovering hope we
     bury under layers of dread, earnest
                    prayers answered revealing that we, too, can

                                        †

conquer hearts, as minds do books, as hands do
     nations, entire systems of thought with their
     constituent ideas, every
     recitation of rhetoric with its
     ideals, worth less than what we feel when we
     meet the song that heals, and open our souls’
     ears to hear what its warmth no longer wants
     concealed, that sun-soaked chorus imploring
     us that we need to accept what sense it
                    has dealt, and stop trying to bargain for

                                        †

a better deal, accepting that our fates
     are not in any way sealed, but treasure
     the wind places in our hands, making us
     wealthier if we accept its offer
     of this experience, when we face each
     other, and play its game, without wearing
     a mask of shame, perspective what takes from
     rejection its pain, fanning to full flame
     attractions we dare not mention by name,
                    ascending to heaven breathing in peace.