Naked Flame

You were so present before my eyes — wherever I was — that at last I came to believe I came to believe in the miracle of your being in the untimely growth of a leaf in the cold winter. I came to believe in the miracle of your being in the faint laugh of a newborn at the shadow of the lace curtain on the wall. I came to believe in the miracle of your being in every flame: every hot fearless flame that rises naked — from within the cold wax or the dry wood — rises and your presence with swift sparks of light proclaims far and wide far and wide... at every time, at every time, — thus above time and place — grown green you laugh you rise before my eyes: you press me in the ring of your arms against your heart, and the world — O deep love — O deep love — you make kind...