anger melt

and so
it's come to this
as we knew it would,
face to face
with no one here
but you and I
and nothing to do
but breathe
and as I feel you exhale
defenseless and so porous
my heart retrieves
the broken bits
scattered by suspicion
and lines them
exposed
before you,
and I feel you
and I tell you what I've felt
barren and fecund.

in the warmth
of your person
my anger has melted
and the poignancy of my love for you
swells in my throat,
I love you
and in the end
it always comes to this
though everything changes
you remain
seeing me
I remain
seeing you.


Beth McCarthy Marks
1993