The first snow of the year br & you lying between my breasts br in my husband's house br & the snow gently rising in my throat br like guilt, br & the windows frosted over br as if etched by acid. br br You have come from the desert br & have left a little sand br between my legs br where it rubs & rubs br & secretes a milky fluid, br finally a poem br or a pearl. br br I am your oyster shell, br your mother of pearl br gleaming like oil on water br for two hours on a snowy day. br br 'Poets fall in love to write about it!' br I said in my brittle way, br & told you about other loves to tempt you br & heard your siren songs of old affairs. br br I fall in love as a kind of research project. br You fall in love as some men go to war. br br What tanks! br What bombs! br What storms of index cards! br br I am binding up your legs with carbon ribbon. br I tied you to the bed with paper chains.