Those Old-Fashioned Lovers

Those Old-Fashioned Lovers

were seeking their ancient loves
without knowing when or where,

whether that love was already inside them,
or love was hidden in some wood, some stream

--then as they gazed, it rose behind them
--the water mirrors our thirst,

can force us to rip ourselves apart
or sacrifice some nameless bore

--see when Theban women burn
incense in Bacchus' shrine:

Cupid doesn't need his spindles.
He strokes our keen ears.

Venus doesn't need a lute.
She pulls at our hearts' threads.