last muse

i need a muse

and this one will be my last

in today's best bloodless tradition

i've laid out my requirements

but they are far from bloodless:

feral scent

and unshaven 

strong arms

strong hands

mind sharp as a blade

and sane enough

to know when to be crazy

the heart of an Amazon

who knows when to be gentle

and when to be fierce

who knows the truth

and never fears to speak it

in a voice

that can make rafters ring

or a lion’s growl

known only to me

that brings the hot sweet melt

of desire to a furious boil

in my blood

who knows my soul

inside and out

and loves with a passion

fiercer than fire

impossible?

perhaps - perhaps not

there are legions

to be looked at

she will be fetching

and she will be real

If i'm going to

worship at a shrine

giving all my secret depths

to a last lover

it's going to be as right

and as perfect as imperfect

can come to being

damn me for a dreamer

but we are such stuff as

dreams are made on

and i can dream

with the best of them