Good Old Obsession (Sonnet 1) Poem by Mark Tapley

Like the tree yearns for the sky
And stretches his knotty limbs towards her
So for thee yearn I
And so toward thee do I stretch my fingers

Like the manticore closes around it prey
After having woo’d and seduc’d her
So with thee do I laugh and play
Only to better clutch you in my fingers

I am, my love, like that tree
For I thirst and hunger and yearn for thee
And thou art my sole heaven

But I am also my love like that manticore
For it is my gold fingers you love me for
But when the close around you – they are leaden