not beauty,wit, not charm
not joy, not vitality
stirred my silence with such a telling tongue

it was not desire
that held your hand to mine
it was not lust
that licked like fire through my veins
and brought to night the light of day

there was not that need
that slowly leeches love's intensity
in your eyes, nor mine
that spoke like sutras through the silence

whatever it was
words cannot fathom

1978
for robin