how I could

and yes how did we get to the point
where I loved you where the hinges
of my heart oiled themselves alive
under a summer-lazy drop-drop of words
my god how did we get to that terrible
place of opening where the forests of body
spilled out of skin to greet you
with their green hands and endangered
animals how could it happen that
you were beautiful of voice
scratchy and wise as promising
as a squeaky boat that I only wanted
to lie in and examine the stars
patiently how could I have fallen into your
clever well like a diver your well
full of starfish at the center of the earth
where children drop wishes like
pennies and trust how could I yes
trust the ribbon of your body the road
to your thighs the gravity of
your hips the sun of your throat and
your breasts that silenced metaphors the
way catastrophe O's the lip and tongue
how could I how dare I love the falling
the collapsing inward the winging outward
the mirroring and wishing of it tangled
in wholeness the entire garden a myth we
believe and ride our fear to when at last
we understand what it is to be brave
and say it the promethean all of it whatever
regardless irrespective of what shall come.