The Living Trees

1.

When all the knots aren't
tied, none of my violences
matter. I am only a gust of wind
and the man won't take his coat off
for me. You will always be the sun -

too hot and insistent, and they'll
all disrobe before they know you've spoiled
me for a fight. And I'll just blow, and blow.

When all the knots
aren't tied, do you know who you've gone
and married in your dreams?


2.

Deep under a pool, the living trees.
Deep under the chill lake, three
new ways to love. We dive
like ducks in dreams, we dive
like ducks that don't come up.
What dryad nymphs are these?
Deep under water, they call.
Three ways, three trees, three
new kinds of fall.


3.

I'm packing
my arsenal.
Like I pack
my underpants
and pens. Three new
kinds of sex. I've tucked
them all into each
other so one's as
handy as another when
the time comes. I'm packing
a Bible, too, I always do,
because your people shall
be my people and your God
shall be my God and ruth
is something I must wrap
in swaddling clothing, tuck
into my breast 'cause I have
none of my own. I am
packing my arsenal
and I never shoot across
the bow; and I'm aiming
nowhere, but I have you
in my sights; and I love
everyone with equal violence,
but all my knots aren't tied.