Strength

The Strength in You

                                       

For the lover is forever

trying to strip bare

his beloved.  

– Carson McCullers

                                    

I found a strand

Of your brown hair

In my bed today,

Eased it over my hands

To feel its length,

Raised it to my face

To savor the scent

That might remain

On a thing so small,

And then,

As I am prone to do,

Gripped both ends

With determined strength

And pulled to break

The thing in two—

But lost my grip

And could not break

The smallest part

Of you.