Strange Surrender

by Simon Henderson

Up on Sunday morning
commotions at the door
I found a man half-naked
"Can I come in for more"?

I said "it wouldn't please me,
your teasing me at dawn;
I don't need the test now
desire has sung her song"

"You musn't be so bitter, sir,
nor need you be so curt.
I'll only stay a little while
I've come to mend the hurt".

I sighed surrender, fingers crossed,
while finches in the garden swarmed
and plucked my sunflowers blind
"Tell me what your business is"
as streamers unfurled in my mind

9/10/78 Soap Lake, WA