Originally published April 10, 2009
Give me One
Give me one
Not thee one
not a one
but
one
not soul mate
but destiny
one to inhale
dust in me
and please.
If P in
front of L
helps
ease
your judgment
toward me,
then
I’ll spittle
through
uttering
it in
three
sloppy splashy
syllables.
The closest
I’ve been
to holy
water
in years
and
it’s not
enough
to sizzle
me clean
and my
plea
yes,
please.
I know
even
asking
tacks
another nail
into
my
coffin
of sin.
Even then
I’ll devote
my remaining days
to saving grace
if
you’ll grant
me
eros
laced,
intravenously fed
with philia
knitted in
the thread
of agape
to get me high
higher
then where I stand.
Leech from me
the weight of
impurities
tangled with my good
intentions
knotted to the root
of the serpent’s path.
Give me one
to hold my gaze
as we leave
our Sodom
and Gomorrahs
ready to taste
milk and honey
and convince me
getting over a mountain
starts with one courage-filled step
and the answer
to slaying giants lies
in my hands.
If I detach my heart
from the strands of my hair
place it on the tip of your
tongue,
you can sing me a psalm
loud enough to drown out
Delilah’s cunning cursed
concoction
stretch your vocal cords
an octave higher
so to break loose
the confines of my own strength
and crush my pillars of pride
to sand.
Give me one
to reach into my scars
run your fingertips over them like braille
feel the depth and texture of their Sanskrit.
Read this story like it was ancient text
and when you reach the last script
tell me you’re ready to write the New Testament.
I just need one
who knows I’m really alabaster
posing as steel.
So when I break
know it’s because the oil in my soul
has overflown
and under no circumstances will be contained.
The lion in me is done silencing the lamb.
Removing the heel from my own neck
takes pure contortionism.
But if Jacob can wrestle with angels
then I’ll throw down with my inner demons.
Listen for Gabriel’s horn to signal
the end of the bout.
Because when Yahweh changes my name
I’ll need you to say it.
Say my name.
Use it as first aid
to coax my heart
from its bomb shelter
calm its nervous twitches
soothe its Tourette spasms.
Prick your finger.
Tap Morse code
along the ventricles and chambers.
dot dash dash
dash dash dash
Thump stroke
Stroke thump
Woman
Give us one heartbeat
to remind me that while
I am still dust
finally, my roots withstand the wind’s gust
with rich fertilizer to plant my feet.
Cultivate
Adam’s strut
Moses’ glow
Joshua’s smile
David’s dance
You’re the God-descended reason
to give love a chance.