Midas Touch
He wants to make his lovers glow like gold,
Except that gold is tame. He wants to make them
Glow, gold eternity, that makes them scold
The lesser beauties. He will lift the hem
Of death since it is only thin gold rags
And find beyond it what they each desire.
Inside their guts he plants his battle flags
And leaves gapes glowing like a gilded fire.
Like Midas he transmogrifies their hearts.
He leaves them glowing, heated by his flames.
He leaves his lovers so fulfilled their parts
Are made of molten gold. His loving maims
The lovers in that they must always wear
His hallmark. It retains their granted prayer.
~ Phillip Whidden