cruel as love must be
 i always remember the waking
 and the falling asleep
 and the kindness of unchanging days
 that love roots hard finding
 a home in my cold brain
 finding a vacancy

 i have heard too many times
 from one-minded cantors
 of death and eternity
 of the lighting of lamps from
 the ruins of the sun:
 to doubt ever that the passing of hours
 unmakes more than courage or violence
 and that efficacy is a meaningless term
 to the saints
 who do more good in waiting
 and cleaning up messes
 than i in a lifetime of
 seeking love.

 5/8/2001