Fist of Petals
for D.B.A.

i.
no no
no go

this element involved also
too young to pick
in spite of this sign,
that sign of ripeness

as inviting as she is uninviting
she pushes me and she pulls me
with equal force

I like instrument she was playing on
was playing with
school girl I'm in love with

her blouse recently
covered with messages
with remarks, written on
written all over

written upon her blouse
and upon her upper body

back and front and sides
upon shoulders, upper arms
where sleeves are

I avoid thinking who wrote where
which were boys, which were girls

what of who might have
with pen or marker
selected or happened upon

one or another erogenous zone
who wrote what's written
where her breasts protrude

“But she is 18
“what are you going to do?”
a friend asked directly recently

I answered just as directly
shouting it really, "Nothing!"
and we both laughed boisterously

somewhere within though
hoping, praying
that some force
would intervene
permit to happen
much more than nothing

who has caused
what is already happening
attached us as we happen to be

is that force not still
available to us

is it not still available
to act on our behalf
is it not on our side

what has it in mind
is it not her and me and it
connected

us three in this joy-making
joy-bringing, joy-giving affiliation

what has it, has he to say of us
of what we might become
of where we might go,
might get to together

already I am transformed
by what we share

it is, she is, all the world to me
how this is, is holy mystery
answer is not mine to provide

where I or she intend
to push us or pull us

we are opening more and more
like a fist of petals
to sweeten creation

ii.
shifted from the need
to be faithful
to wife to be
or not to be

to needing to be faithful
to what was but
an extramarital affair

to what has become
and who has become
my heart and soul
the centre of my whirl


© Obediah Michael Smith, 2010
Written on Monday, May 3, 2010
Between 2:40 p.m. and 12 midnight.