For a Blank Book

Joy Kogawa

I have a peculiar
leaf shaped ears
my fur is
forest coloured

when your flesh
first uttered words
I lost understanding

you said I attend
stone and not flesh
source and not blood
bread and not bone

your flesh
your blood
your bone

which brings you to
mistrust of me

and all the while
the stone bleeds
the source calls your name
the bread is broken

but you cannot see
or hear
or taste

listen then, my love,
to the wind blowing
and the sound of breath
over the grassy forest floor

but know I did not bend
to the right or to the left
all the while
that I loved you

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Joy Kogawa's works copyright © to the author.