for Karthik
that salt adheres to the palm
proclaiming only this
that purchase requires both
sweat and the one hidden pearl
of scraped touch
much there is in the hand
bequeathed;
beneath the thigh the grit
burns smooth the groove
where you lay
tapered fingers flame
that these lips may chaff/
chafe more the love
from the grain which
skin frames from
cloudless scansions
Kindled limbs
do not go out
do not ash hot
to powder
nor the colder grow
though each is made distinct,
distinguished,
though each
is extended, extinguished in
the other's contradiction
neither brother or lover
but both
be perseverance
of palms,
of salt
Preserve.