Inspire Me

As I would inspire you: between us I would have
The golden chains of a hymn, linking us
In thought, binding our eyes to the same forms
By which the same words bound across –
Oh, if only they were the same lips!

But with you only vision conjoins me, and I see
The shapes upon your figure which my mind can trace
(The spiraling brown, penetrations of fingers, the hanging
Cloth and the lightly penciled arms) but will never touch.

What are you thinking in this moment that is not
The moment of my thoughts? Yours are far from me –
So far across the invisible distance
That I do not exist. "Look at me, look at me!"
Yes, if only you could see me:
If only you could see me as I'm seeing you.