An Intimacy That We Deny Ourselves Poem by RIC BASTASA

there are two posts
near and far and solid and
compelling

these two posts
build a house of some strictures
do not do this
do not do that

this is evil you say
this is outrageously sinful

because you are a married man
and i am a married woman

you look the other way to the direction of the wind
blowing westward
i look downwards trying to find the explanations of the heart

what is desirable. Is this wrong?
if it is not, then it must be right.

what gives us joy? is this a sin?
what is sin? Are sins the rules and regulations of man?
safety standards? societal order?

sometimes you are hard to be with.
you do not kiss me when you like to.
i wait. i do not conquer. i do not subdue.

someone that i love. someone that i desire.
someone whom i live to sleep with.
someone who can undress me
and tell me that my body is the kingdom
of God's divinity inside my heart.

i waited. you looked to the other direction
where the wind blows westward, where you will be far away

where you will soon be forgotten.
i have no regrets.
i am just the offer, and it was you

the altar, the princess who walked away
because there were crumples
in the white dress that you were wearing.