The British Library Rare Books and Music Reading Room;
Why Go Search for Black Diamonds in Deepest Mines, Far, Far Away?
I like the way his shoulders hunch in curve
And swell when he is sitting calm in thought,
But even more I love the darkened swerve
Of almost straightened brackets stretched out, taut,
Above the manly arc of nose, the bend
Of beard, and hair on upper lip, the sweeps
Of shapes in earlobes, and his lovely blend
Of beauty with intelligence in deeps
Of black, black eyes, the lashes black, the black
Of pupils, black of irises and brows.
The total composition has no slack
In it and says, “Make me eternal vows.
Make me the vows that rest in Allah’s throne.
masculineMake me the vows of blood and manly bone.”