treasure the fool,

shops the Chelsea Hotel

icy January Manhattan

$1100 a month.

treasure the fool,

waits to touch

the woman who brought him home,

who shackled his will with fierce detachment

who danced with his shadows laughing off walls.

treasure the fool,

visits films alone

refusing to exhaust

the rivers of others.

treasure the fool,

discovers sedate moons

while dreaming of yellow treasures,

mango bearing trees,

glasses overflowing with crushed red ice.

treasure the fool,

dying gently each day,

wet sand rooting his sex,

white winter beach,

portrait of passion.

signature of surrender.