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.