a little time

beauty 

as we understand it 

is a sham 

it is a trick of nature 

you do not impress me  

with your flesh 

you see 

it’s your spirit  

i want to digest 

and it’s this 

i offer to you 

the same 

but the bones of youth 

carry a different crisis 

than those of age 

and the fruit they bear 

is the same as they seek 

finding refuge 

pulled bloody  

far too often 

from the chests 

of the weak 

but even this 

the spirit says 

i can divest of 

—lift the flesh 

to the fire 

and turn the spit  

under the stars 

as the sparks 

retire themselves 

there 

eons beyond 

the crackling light 

in the clearing  

in the wood 

we call love 

even this 

i can contend with 

all that is required 

of course 

is a little time 

---

Image: AnnaZhuleva