A Thousand Little Gifts
Today I wrap you a bundle of matches;
tomorrow I wrap you a flame.
I bring you a thousand little gifts and lay
them at your door in hope that your dark eye
will catch the low gleam of silver paper beneath the door
and you will think that it is a light somewhere and
you will remember that the light is with me and
with a flicker of desire you will perhaps
reach toward the handle of the door to
reach for me.
But the hand of the Lord is heavy; your hand
is heavy too.
I wrap you a joke, one of your favorites, and
then an incantation.
Three days from now I will have no more
paper and I will lay myself down to push
just my wishes underneath your door.
I will stay. Till I am all the way empty I will give
in, give up, give out for
you, for give.
A thousand little gives. For you.