Considers, musing at the sleeper’s side,
the initiated bride
cycle of seed and growth, strength and decay;
tomorrow’s natural course
following simply out of yesterday
through a pillar of fire.
Tonight; intrusive memory’s sudden force:
chastity and desire,
acts of childhood, parents, affection, age;
necessary and unnecessary death;
recurring terror of the unfenced edge,
meaningless life; and love’s affirming faith.