Your Beauty

In your touch and the holding of hands
            there is great beauty;
in our arms held around each other
            there is only beauty.

When I move to take off your blouse
            there is great beauty;
in the taking off of my pants,
            there is only beauty.

As my hands roam over your body
            there is great beauty;
in our nakedness
            there is only beauty.

As I place my hands on your buttocks,
            there is great beauty;
in the way you lift up your mouth  
            there is only beauty.

in our nakedness standing together
            there is great beauty;
in the glory of your pubic hair
            there is only beauty.

                        ***

There is beauty behind and before.
We are robed in beauty
as I lift and carry you to the bed;

you push your tongue in my mouth
as we kiss and kiss;
I hold your head
as I trace your face with my lips;

then my fingers start working your hair
and my mouth works down
from your mouth and your breasts
to your mound
and my tongue slips in
and my fingers twist gently your nipples.

Now your voice begins. 
You gasp and you call out my name.
You begin to pant
and you move in small jerks like a toy:
O there is joy
and my love is dissolved in your beauty.

                        ***

You start to sweat.
Your eyes shut, then open again:
two deep dark pools.
But your face is hard,
concentrating on strength and sensation;

your muscles taut,
as you work and you work
and work hard,
and your muscles strain
as you bring yourself to conclusion;

then explosion reigns
and your voice turns into a wail
and you come and come,
and it seems you are coming forever,
then your voice converts to a wheeze;
and you squeeze and squeeze.

Finally, you lie silent for a time;
then start back up again
with only a minimum of teasing
and repeat and repeat
until exhausted.

***

You lie silent, your bones turned to mush.
You no longer move.

We've experienced a beauty that reaches
beyond our reach,
a reach that is harsh, tyrannical,
but of such great strength
it approaches the primal in violence,
but does not hurt.
It leaves bodies and spirits drenched
in a holy sweat.

And now on your back you lie naked,
your arms spread out,
exhausted, 
one leg drawn up
so the petals of your sex like a flower
are exposed and open.

There is much beauty as you lie
half asleep, no bones,
soft breath.

I cover your beauty with a blanket
and with regret
get dressed and walk to the door,
say a prayer of thanks
for blessing given
without guile or shame or recrimination.

And I know your name.