This line from a poem by Littleboots occurs in the poem below entitled "Self Portrait." I assure you that it is not a self-portrait of the physical man who calls himself by that name. He is a vigorous and handsome 37 years of age and has, for more than a decade, been deeply and faithfully in love with a man decades older than himself. Given the enigmatic nature of a poet's muse, however, perhaps this exquisite work reveals him as an "old soul" graced with a sense of the infinite rather than of a span of time leading from one generation to another. Although I do not presume to interpret it within the context of its meaning in the poem, I think of the line "Willing to kiss the whole world....." in terms of this young poet's own willingness to share the joy he takes in loving his Silverfox with all humankind. How is this joy most abundantly expressed? In his poetry!
FROM BURNT BLACK SOIL Like as raging fire razes dry woods,
So as does love burn the heart.
To prepare the way misunderstood,
'Till wisdom grows and passion parts.
From burnt black soil shall someday,
A sapling's will, produce great girth.
And understand the fire's rage
Has given you a Redwood's birth.
From this fire all things portend-
That love is will and will 'till end.
LOVE OR MADNESS, PETRONIUS?Come back to me
From the priestess
With yourself restored.
Expose your secrets to me,
Like sacred mysteries.
Explore my mouth and body,
And like a slave in the mines,
Search for my heart.
Shower me
With your seeds of creation
So my wisdom may bear your children.
BE GREAT, FOR MEI'd like to sow for you
A bed of flowers
Just for when you wish to lie in it.
Every Van Gogh would be there,
Every Monet.
The color and beauty
Would swathe your soul,
Ever so gently...
Like a soft, hot, summer madness.
And your heart will struggle,
And feel compelled
To go where blue meets black.
And where the stars found their beginnings,
The magnitude and finiteness
Of your life-
Will spin before your eyes.
SING FOR MESing for me a song
A song that is a harvesting floor.
A stage for your heart
To enchant me.
Sing for me!
I want your every note and action
To rush me and soothe me,
Like a crashing wave
And its withdrawal...
To sicken me with greatness.
Show me the emotions
The words bring.
Show me how deep
Your river of understanding
Runs.
With tears in our eyes,
And with the voice of God,
Sing for me. And carry me
Into your heaven.
ABOVE EDENMeet me near the gates, alone
Where eagles dare.
Atop craggy cliffs
Where the four winds kiss
And grace the threshold.
Through ivory gateway
We dance in circles,
Around eachother,
Like the planets.
When we touch
Our hearts collide,
And chaos explodes
Across the skies
Of reason.
Above Eden.
MY CAESARCome to me my Caesar,
Take my bare chest
To your breastplate.
As the warrior's lofted spear,
I seek to pierce
Your battle-strong heart.
Standing before me
Mars screams from your eyes.
As I come to know the awe
Of your challenge.
As the wars of decision
Harry you endlessly,
Your seething will
Accepts the call.
To conquer me,
The enemy of reason,
On this bed of love...
And war, and wisdom.
Come to me my Caesar,
For Venus soothes the fiery Mars,
And champions the sweetest notes.
Kisses, that fill your soul
With new songs
For worthy lovers-
Impassioned lovers-
In the throes
Of poetic language.
Flesh to flesh our manhood presses,
Branding our hearts
With forbidden fire,
As our passion increases...then,
To rest as the raging battle,
We hold eachother
As trophies from far-off kingdoms.
Proud sons of Venus and Mars.
...As the Senate calls you back
Through the raining streets of Rome,
I lay conquered, yet throned,
In the midst of besieged glory.
And the heavens cry,
Cry for me alone,
Knowing I will never again loose
Your golden breastplate.
SELF PORTRAITI used to be comical,
A welcomed sight.
Now, just a serious
Old man. Dead in character.
Caring about everything
Equally,
I'm exhausted and boring.
Anxiety ridden
And reclusive.
Seeking a ridiculous perfection.
What a wonderful thing
It is to be alive!
You can see it in my eyes.
Can't you?
Or here, allow me
To show you my back.
Where I whip myself
Endlessly,
Enslaving
My own freedoms.
Deep brown eyes
Signal the depth
Of my soul,
Aqualine nose...
And a weak chin.
But lips, so fine,
Willing to kiss the whole world.
Yet they remain
Unused.
I can see why,
Can't you?
