to be near

to R.

my storm my wave my sea
tumble-black hair my shining-eyed
sun-spark burning armful
of seconds my lady of rivers
down arm and finger and over
the sky of skin I know you
soundless I know you sightless
at heart of lotus I know you
in a tangle of day and night
and breath and words and seeing
my flower of the first day
whose hand of goddess-substance
has after night-long aeons
to such light touched my eyes
I offer into your care
an unformed poem I cannot
shape but through a jumble
of beauty born in space of
Earth’s rise and fall I hear clear
your words of love your words of love