For Instruction

By Vassar Miller

Teach me some prayer
tender as you are tender when
one of my shadows mingles with one of yours and makes
an intricate weave we walk on for a moment,
gentle as you are gentle when
you humble yourself to take my kiss,
wordless as we are wordless when
a pause has fallen between us like a pedal.

Vassar Miller (1924-98) was the author of 10 books of poetry in her lifetime.