love replied

published: 2013-06-10

She is from the Philippines. She has children over there, overseas. A husband here. She helps me, I help her. She is cleaning my fridge while we catch up. Her questions are casual, my answers lighthearted. How my love life is? Am I happy? I explain my current situation to her. My voice quivers as I do. A lot has happened. We’ve known each other for a while.
“Never love too much,” she says, hiding her discomfort behind the door of the fridge.
“Why?”
“You will suffer.”
But. “But… if you don’t love someone wholly and completely then how can it ever become a good relationship?”
“You don’t need to love. You need to respect.”
My heart sinks when she repeats, “you will suffer,” because I know she’s right.
But. But… there’s also this. Isn’t there also this?

Love came up to me
& got down to his knee
& said I am here to serve
you what you deserve
All that you wish
as on a gold dish
eyes tongue and heart
your most private part

Why do you eat
my behind & my feet
Why do you kiss
my belly like this
Why do you go down
& suck my cock crown
when I bare you the best
that is inside my breast

I lay there reproved
aching my prick moved
But Love kissed my ear
& said nothing to fear
Put your head on my breast
There let your skull rest
Yes hug my breast, this
is my heart you can kiss

Then Love put his face
in my tenderest place
where throbbed my breast sweet
with red hot heart’s heat
There, love is our bed
There, love lay your head
There you’ll never regret
all the love you can get

From the hair to the toes
neck & knees in repose
Take the heart that I give
Give heart that you live
Forget my sweet cock
my buttock like a rock
Come up from my thighs
Hear my heart’s own straight sighs

I myself am not queer
Tho I hold your heart dear
Tho I lie with you naked
tho my own heart has ached
breast to breast with your bare
body, yes tho I dare
hug & kiss you all night
This is straight hearts’ delight.

So bring your head up
from my loins or the cup
of my knees and behind
where you touch your lips blind
Put your lips to my heart
That is my public part
Hold me close and receive
All the love I can give

Love Replied by Allen Ginsberg.