Someone Greeting You From Afar

Behind the barrier of daylight        a dark outline

you don’t want to stare at for fear of being

blinded.  It’s the same      figure you recognize

in the pupils of enemies and lovers      consuming

itself in front of you       holding an unremitting

interchange with the clear universe of things

divine.          Everyone on the other side says

hi.  Everyone says       the beautiful is nothing but

the onset of terror    we can barely define.  Who

is the person greeting me behind the burning?

The thighs, the knees           emerge as black

silhouettes       against white.  Hi, hi! You know

it’s too late to remain      incognito.  You don’t know

whether or not         death is kind.