for so much of my youth I was wildly happy, deliriously blissfull, ignorant and free   it was 6 th grade phys. ed. class when I saw the naked chest and arms of our gym teacher   I remember tracing with my eyes, so carefully, all the curves, when a deep stirring, a peculiar feeling shivered to the surface   it scared me, I pulled back, horrified this new hunger would show on my face and everyone would know   I knew then I had a secret I must hide I knew the mirror knew, so no

we know to only use our nose with a rose   and pick hidden blackberries with pinpoint stealth   never climb an acacia tree, that will bloody any day   oh, and cactus, the painful lesson of sloppiness that’s erased   after pulling out the needles and having too much of a good laugh

I cut a cold, shaded corner to reach the sun   the soft warm press of light on my face, brakes the feet I draw an oval breath   the whole walk, I’ll bear the hidden sun to embrace the revealed one up ahead   if pleasure chose a time to play hide and seek, it would be an October walk