Catherine Daly

Surplice

Last night, I read the Roman Elegies to her.
Then I laid the book aside, and improvised something for her...
she actually hung on my words...

Venus in Furs, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch

I
     the veil was rent
     “a small fur hat with a black veil”
     on / her / head

the above

temple below what place
worship ?
"craving classical nakedness"

rhythm of the waves
coral walls

this

keeping this

secret (not-writing)
(not loving)

seems a scandal and a shame.
(to whom?)

Ashamed in the world
or humiliated by it
pleasurably
reduced to

"nude in her dark furs"

scandalized by my own
(how?)

by scandal,
scandal
by not
writing

failing to believe in
"dressed in a gown of white satin
which floods down her body like light"

I've kept love.
hushed

If you
(others
would know. . .)

light penetrates the innermost sanctum

I'd be more embarrassed     humiliated
than confessing now     (in control)
     I. . .

he
I hold she:
keep it

my) belief (in him).
He is .

"reflection works evil in you"

Poetry brought
to me.

reveals
Poetry this .

I disclose this
to you, who
"white satin flows gracefully down her slender body,
leaving her limbs bare"

revelation fulfills.

Love's
poetry's

promise: (program?)

love
everything, anyone

love interpenetrates .
     "hair interwoven with
     and held by
     a black velvet ribbon"

You may have missed (making)

your own song
love;

tell my joy — it's yours,

not locked away,
a poem in a box
unwritten poem in my body
unsaid I

secret even from ;
not set apart.
     (cut above)
          surplice
     "I noticed the furs were her
     only covering."

We meet.
Love arrives,

poetry.

     him
I love     my fault,
     poetry     love

I won't go