For Sam...On Self Love. Poem by RIC BASTASA

do not be afraid
of libido,
it is part of you,

us, we do not invent this,
it is there

we may wish it is gone
but it stays

we are told to go and
be clean

but who? nobody is claiming
responsibility for
the illness in Ward 6,

now they are washing
their hands
when someone so important
hangs himself
dead
on arrival

denial is a sin,
it is the opposite of
acceptance

we are here
we are the facts
we wish no one ill
we only wish them
all

love. Now are you
afraid of yourself?

there is no one
that shows the love

except yourself
thrive upon it
till the end.