LONG AGO

Long ago, a woman in turret or tower
Let down her hair, and her lover climbed up.
Long ago, I cut my hair.
There are no more towers.

But there are the long bones beneath my skin,
The long ladder of my body.
Please stand on the slanting fields of my feet,
Hold to the ankle bones and climb,

And when you reach
The bleached bars of my ribcage,
I will hold you,
And I will never let you go.

photo: Neil Schaeffer