Delusion

You, a sun with no planets.
The lion baring teeth about to strike
falsely limping, another’s blood
dripping from your jaws.

Unity by Pablo Neruda

Unity
by Pablo Neruda
Translated by Clayton Eshleman

There is something dense, united, settled in the depths,
repeating its number, its identical sign.
How it is noted that stones have touched time,
in their refined matter there is an odor of age,
of water brought by the sea, from salt and sleep.

I'm encircled by a single thing, a single movement:
a mineral weight, a honeyed light
cling to the sound of the word "noche":
the tint of wheat, of ivory, of tears,
things of leather, of wood, of wool,
archaic, faded, uniform,
collect around me like walls.

I work quietly, wheeling over myself,
a crow over death, a crow in mourning.
I mediate, isolated in the spread of seasons,
centric, encircled by a silent geometry:
a partial temperature drifts down from the sky,
a distant empire of confused unities
reunites encircling me.

Inbetween Skin

zen mysterious kisses
light tapping lips on the buttocks
revealed a sensation
like a rocking chair in grandmother’s den
into the room sneaks tender moonlight
a baby falls asleep
food is left in the crisper
up the walls shadows creep,
dance on the bedroom floor
playing games like gypsy faeries
who cover their anticipatory mouths
stand on tiptoes,
watch with rose eyes
the nightly dance
of entangled legs
and white satin fingertips
crossing translucent lines
and curving bodies gyrate
like delicate knives under the moonlight