I was told you are the ends of stars
or were:
all dirt and debris, uncertain blaze
but I had whittled you in small stone,
agate eyes, bone to bone.
Debris in a cloud at your feet and my fingers.
I said before: Come, darling.
You and I and steel to conquer silk
will lay your ribbons down.
I would take you coarse
and I would have you honest;
no silk frivols, preening lace,
but warm carved stone
swaying
clumsy diagonals on checkered marble.
May I this dance, white queen?
May I a waltz
on this our chessboard ballroom?
But after the colors fell,
quick cobalt flight, mauve in a following scream,
the music stopped and you knelt