[Giotto Bondone; Angel - detail from Arena di Scroveggni]

Love
--Gerald Stern

I loved your sweet neck but I loved your shoulder blades more
and wondered whether I should kiss your cheek first
or your hair for I was watching carefully, and
sitting on the edge of the tub I thought of
the three great places, namely the three gardens
of Eve, Gypsy Rose Lee, and Mrs. Bloom
lately of Auschwitz, though there are others, oh
there are others, but show me the two hands concealing
love and you have the whole history of the human race there.