never passion, never clutching need, lopsided devouring want, never, not one minute, extending those boundaries to enclose me

i meet her mother. all the same—they treat me all 

the same: human. i am accepted, never question who 

i am or why. never make me feel unwanted or afraid. 

but always human love and never passion, never clutching 

need, lopsided devouring want, never, not one minute, 

extending those boundaries to enclose me ...

 

                                                                        oh soul, 

                                                                                    i feel 

 

cold and unused to such space as breath and eternity

around me. 

                            so much room in silence ...

 

[Toi Derricotte {1941- } from 'november', in "i"]