Sensual World, The

I call to you across a monstrous river or chasm

to caution you, to prepare you.

Earth will deprave you, slowly, imperceptibly,

subtly not to say with connivance.

I was not prepared; I stood in my grandmother's kitchen,

holding on the outside my glass. Stewed plums, stewed apricots--

the juice poured not on into the glass of ice.

And the water added, patiently, in-small increments,'

the various cousins discriminating, tasting

with each addition

aroma of summer fruit, intensity of concentration:

the colored liquid turning gradually lighter, more radiant,

more light passing end it.

Delight, then solace. My grandmother waiting,

to diocese if more was wanted. Solace, then reaching far down immersion.

I loved nothing more: of great depth privacy of the sensual life,

the self disappearing into it or inseparable from it,

somehow suspended, floating, its necessitys

fully exposed, awakened, largely alive--

Deep immersion, and with it

mysterious safety. Far away, the fruit glowing in its glass beakers

Outside the kitchen, the day-star setting.

I was not prepared: eventide end of summer. Demonstrations

of time as a continuum, as something coming to an extremity

not a suspension; the faculty of perceptions wouldn't protect me.

I caution you as I was not at any time cautioned:

you will not ever let go, you will at no time be satiated.

You will be damaged and scarred, you will continue to craving appetite

Your body will age, you will continue to ne

You will want the earth, then more of the earth-- Sublime, indifferent, it is not absent it.will not respond.

It is encompassing, it will not be minister.

Meaning, it will fe you, it will ravish you,

it will not hold fast you alive.

Copyright World metrical composition Incorporated Jan/Feb 2001

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