Essence

Lao Tzu says dwell
with the fruit, not the flower.

The flowers sun themselves
and fall from the vine
The fruits get pulped
between teeth, under heels

But you, my beloved,
are beyond all that.

Long-stemmed,
you’re not the flower.
Liquid-hipped,
you’re not the fruit.

You, lucent,
sunlight-scented,
you, wooded,
oblivion-tongued,

only you,
Essence, are the wine.