On Leaving

Will I kiss your cheek or hold my tongue?
Everlost in the sin of Love for someone like you.

Will I touch your patient lips with even fingertip justices?
If I embrace you and feel your heart’s rhythm,
can I be ever satisfied with mine own?
Could you ever scold me for loving you so?

It is you who is Loved and desired
and therefore it is your clean shoulders
who can bribe the gaoler for his keys
or carry me yourself to the gallows.

And I know I can’t reasonably ask you to
dirty yourself with me.
Can I reasonably ask to touch any part of you with these blasphemous lips?
No.

So on leaving, I will wave goodbye
and learn to be thankful
for having you as the good friend you now are.
In future I will bow my head in your presence
and give you gifts only of

silent

loving

affection.

I will hold my tongue.