Was he then Adam of the Burning Way? br hid away in the heat like wrath br conceald in Love’s face, br or the seed, Eris in Eros, br key and lock br of what I was? I could not speak br the releasing br word. For into a dark br matter he came br and askt me to say what br I could not say. “I ..” br br br All the flame in me stopt br against my tongue. br My heart was a stone, a dumb br unmanageable thing in me, br a darkness that stood athwart br his need br for the enlightening, the br “I love you” that has br only this one quick in time, br this one start br when its moment is true. br br br Such is the sickness of many a good thing br that now into my life from long ago this br refusing to say I love you has bound br the weeping, the yielding, the br yearning to be taken again, br into a knot, a waiting, a string br br br so taut it taunts the song, br it resists the touch. It grows dark br to draw down the lover’s hand br from its lightness to what’s br underground.