Knocks twice. The first,
to announce arrival,
the second, to listen
for an answer.
Passage involves
waiting in the shadows
until the light inside
comes looking;
you cannot
drag it out
with weeping
or the knowledge
of your years-
the sweetest child
has died in darkness
thinking how
to bend its ear.
And so we try
a language
like a question,
a body like
a secret wing,
a fire built
by lovers
who rush
into the flame.
