Forbidden Fruit [by Michael Lally]

Forbidden Fruit

all the forbidden fruit I ever
dreamt of--or was taught to
resist and fear--ripens and
blossoms under the palms of my
hands as they uncover and explore
you--and in the most secret
corners of my heart as it discovers
and adores you--the forbidden fruit
of forgiveness--the forbidden fruit
of finally feeling the happiness
you were afraid you didn't deserve--
the forbidden fruit of my life's labor
--the just payment I have avoided
since my father taught me how--
the forbidden fruit of the secret
language of our survivors' souls as
they unfold each others secret
ballots--the ones where we voted
for our first secret desires to come
true--there's so much more
I want to say to you--but for
the first time in my life I'm at
a loss for words--because
(I understand at last)
I don't need them
to be heard by you.

From It Takes One to Know One by Michael Lally, published by Black Sparrow Press. Copyright © 2001 by Michael Lally. Reprinted with the permission of Black Sparrow Press. All rights reserved

Comments

[David Schloss]

A beautifully convoluted spiritual love poem. Quite a rarity in these usually profane times. Thanks, Michael.

[PAUL Joseph CORMIER]

Is there an objective correlative in this poem? Your tough stance may be an objective correlative? Sometimes I wonder if first person address isn't just another character (not the poet)in an objective correlative, or is this Personism, or am I just being obtuse, Michael? A formidable poem from a formidable dude.

[Daniela Gioseffi]

A good poem. Michael Lally, I knew you then in New York City around St. Mark's in the Bowery, and now in our older years we live in SOMA. www.DanielaGioseffi.com to remind you that I'm a poet and we knew each other back then in The City where I lived for 50 yrs. I also knew Peter and Ted and all of them then....Takes One to Know One....