Caught up in your gaze, that unflinching look,
that I can only compare to the eyes of the hawks
I saw at The Bird Paradise, I am an open book.
I become transparent. In these talks
we have, I live in total exposure to what
will seize me. If sometimes I seem in awe
and cannot hide my thoughts, I've got
my charter, knowing only heaven's law-
there can be no lies between us, no art.
So I can say without embarrassment
your face is written in light across my heart
just below God's name. Even the dissent
lurking in your impish grin is in accord
with the prophet's paradise and virtue's reward.