I discovered a passion once
and spent it falsely on a bargain
of my own making --
at the closing of a deal bought much
too dearly far more than I could
expend of my heart
exhausted lay I spent upon the
shore of my exposure passionless.
listless plod thru life benumbed
expecting nothing, fearful of my
carelessness in craving still
the passion-spent now that I've struck
this awkward stance a trade
to keep my heart in check sedate.

And just this morning I retrace my movements
of late -- these old familiar steps of love
like forehead kiss and rasping paint
with utmost care to bring about a
restoration of my love --
a reining in of that which
would have reigned o'er me entirely
incinerate me in its cheap intensity --
now cooled by gentle rain
of my own making not

God's mending bending of my heart to love
with passion that I've never known before
urging towards the other -- hot desire reborn in
windy calling culling of my spirit