Don't You Know

In the morning
you touch me—
a gentle caress
across my cheek
or over my hair—
while I lay
pretending to sleep
waiting for this
soft goodbye.

During the day
you call me—
kind words
and idle chatter—
while I work
in the house
hoping that you
will think of me.

In the evening
you return to me
I gauge your mood
and I wonder
will you share
will you listen
will you be kind
will you let me
reach out to you?

Why is it
you love me
so much from afar—
(often I wake
to find my hand
clutched in yours
as if you need
my protection)
but you show
so little when I’m near?

Don’t you know
I need your love
up close,
where I can see it
where I can smell it
so I know it
to be true
and not such
a bother to you?

Don’t you know
that it hurts?

Heat

A jumble of articulation across steamy air
Sounds with no meaning
I float on a cushion thought
That has nothing to do with here.

A face drifts toward me
Blond hair, icy-blue eyes
Ruddy complexion, slick from the humidity
A body toned and tanned

Is he talking to me?
What does he want?
More jumbled sounds
What does he want from me?

The sounds order themselves
He questions me
I answer in his language, Yes.
He draws closer.

He smiles
His eyes sparkle
He touches my arm
As if we share a secret

I feel the heat of his body
Down the length of my side
Oppressive and humid
Like the air around us

He’s attractive
Knows his effect
Works it to perfection
But I know better

He speaks again
I reply, No
So he asks me of my homeland
His comments sound forced

He presses me
Urges me to a table
Holds a pen and a pad of paper
Poised to write

Again, I say, No
Not today
I don’t want
What you’re selling

His smile slips
Eyes dim
He walks away to find another
I’m nothing to him now

But still, I feel the heat of his body.

A Prayer to the Great Mother

Great Mother, please forgive us the sins we have committed.
Sins against the Earth
Sins against each other
Sins of hatred and intolerance
These sins against our Souls.
Your Soul.

Great Mother, Goddess of Earth, Giver of Life
Gather us in your ephemeral arms.
Ease our wounds
Comfort our Souls
Calm our wild and mercurial minds
Remind us that we are Brothers and Sisters
bound together by your bountiful Grace
And to injure one another is to injure our Spirit.
Your Spirit.

Great Mother, show us the Way.
Limn our Path to Love with silvery light
So we may follow without fear.
Let the sound of laughter fill the air
And May the Great God spread his warm golden rays to light our Way,
Shining on our upturned faces.
Great Mother, guide us to Love.