On Initiating Contact with a Poem

Yes: she lets you watch her make her egress
from her shoes and dress.
But do not second-guess.

Don’t assume.
Grant her all the psychic room
you might not generally lend a pink and blonde cartoon.

Be on guard.
Ignorance is easy: innocence is hard.
Be as unforgiving as the grand imagination of a bard

must be
of any slight inauthenticity
or infelicity

of truth or consequence:
no sitting on the fence –
all tense –

with fear.
Ask: “Dear?”
“Would you come here?”

.