Fly Away, Follow Desire Poem by RIC BASTASA

desire is hard to spell
it used to live in streetcars
and complicated the life of one who
finally
lost himself in the labyrinth of
too much thought

i spell it secretly
and i don't spill it like your
beans in Malta

it is hard to pronounce
to fulfill it you do not even have to utter it

it must live in the heart
it must grow in the body and keep itself ready on the groins


or the thighs or the lips
or the soles of your feet during the cold pour of the rain
by the side of your window

the possibilities are always myriad
welcome it
do not deny the rights of desire

it makes you write so well
it smooths the rough seas of your journey
makes you forget what is coming
to destroy you

forgive yourself, embrace desire
do not harm
be good, be gentle

keep on waiting for the right time
cut those boundaries

travel and if you have the wings ready in your mind
try
fly away