My poem ‘The Arms of Men’ published in The Bond Street Review – Winter 2021

 

The Uncertainty of Men

 

Arms

more used to wielding heavy weapons,

reach out

to hold me.

 

Lips

more used to giving orders

search for mine

in silence.

 

Men

more used to bearing arms

adept at rape & pillage

sometimes reach out,

desire stripped raw

war postponed

for now.

 

Leaking tenderness,

you lie in my embrace

defenceless

for now

arms around each other

I’m wounded by your longing.

 

Or,

am I embracing

an unexploded anger

our intimacy

collateral damage?

 

True desire

surrenders all power

(first published in ‘The Arms of Men’ – Melbourne Poets Union 2019 )