Love Rituals

There's public and private
norms and normlessness 
in the one I dare not murmur 
though I must
I utter and she snaps
that cord between heart and reason
and helplessly heartless
harsh word and dark look
compete with one another
and in exchange --
she's too beautiful to lose,
I concede.
In the other
there's metamorphosis 
all water and air
things that move
tease and heal
continental shifts
and the turning of word-gravel
fair exchange 
no competition 
and yet 
at the end of ocean 
and the disappearing of breeze
it's her word that that rises
it's her voice
that I take as a kiss
and her smile 
that turns the windmills of my heart.