Aug. 24th, midnight

to write a portrait of the days
and shadowed peoples of my memory
is not so hard.
To make it truthful, however, is to ask
not only exacting journeys of myself, but also heat-seeking questions
about the nature and relevance of that Julie's-eye-glimpse.
And always to remember "always valid, always valid."

Fantasies of
Place finger pads lightly on each eyelid
Now you are absolved of a piece of your own self
But I don't wish to be catholic, standing up before God
and proclaiming myself full of His power, though I want
to be able to snag part of higher spiritual states
and so help others to find it
or similarly peace.
how can I ever give someone the gift of herself?
Show me
the honest conduit, if it is possible.