Porcelain, marble & paper
adorn the most indelicate movements
like greeting cards from the gods,
milky consolations for being made human.
Under white light, first is the unveiling;
the release
of bra-straps, buttons, zippers, tights,
a long-awaited itch so marvelously soothed,
& flesh freed into air, the opening
of poppies on an April morning.
Then ablutions; steam
& copious tendrils of scald
spreading between hairs, legs, toes,
skin delivered from the day to a new lover,
water, cloth, air, cloth, night.
A cruet, glass grown clouded
with yellow beads of olive oil opens,
chilly & divine, pooled in paper
for drawn eyes, jaw, lips, dissolving
oil in oil, anointed.
