while birds collapse voicelessly
in the flawless crystal of the throat
there your body sinks
in the crimson of twilight
disheveled shadows
cradle your shivering shame
there stumbles wisdom
gives out a cry
in which valleys turn into the fever
of lips disentangled
there a snake of your breath
reaches out for grapes
and minotaur seconds
approach the transparency
of your breast
peering through their sensuous gasp
they resemble death
its starving grip
its meaningless lust
2002
***