2.2

SERENADE

You're very attractive

But not in the usual way:

Your face comes from stained glass windows And is almost ugly

Except in quarter lights,

Wayward, inconstant, flickering.

The planes of your body move me

To a hovering anxiety

That this fragile shapeliness will change. Think now: today

May be older than yesterday.

It is younger than tomorrow.

And what gaspings flood

In this our carnal knowing

Will be a strange rapture to remember.

Come to me. Rise to me.

Sing to me,

In the former way,

In that other mad time

When larks were awakened

In your yellow tasseled string guitar And your jealous kitten kept clawing Into her scratching mat.

We are not angels

But we can pretend to be.

Just now,

*

*

when you laughed

While we were discussing Klee

A pain tightened around my heart Lest you might not so laugh again. Laugh and sing.

Drink the wine.

Play the tune.

Love me in the gasping way, Kiss me, faithless, and be gay While your roommate is away.

HARLAN CONNOR

9