Mar 18 2009
∞
April 19, 2005: Direct Address, Joan Larkin
Direct Address
Joan Larkin
You said,
“I am afraid
I want to be a woman” —
I think it is only fair to warn you
it is not what you think
trailing your skirts
brow-pencil, night cream —
these aren’t the feminine
or any softness you were denied
but some extreme costume of the heart.
Steve, you wanted to be a queen.
I think it only fair to warn you
the heart is sexless.
It lies undressed in the dark,
and under the silk
or the single earring of gold,
the many-sexed apparel,
the heart, naked, is beating
need — need — need
