Photo by Marcelina Martin, 1974

 OPENING OF THE HEART

In that moment I knew what I held in my hands
was not of shell and ocean but of flesh and bone
I had enfolded her within my own wetness
and in the sweetness of her yielding found her heart 
a golden glow of tears and sorrow yet to be touched
I whispered into the hinge of her clam
so tightly closed that not even water could enter
I whispered over and over
into the bitterness of her unyielding
I said I would never cease whispering
until fear released her

I said I would continue to whisper even when I was gone
The opening of the heart is not a joy but a deep pain
that cracks open every seam and stitch
until the fabric itself is gone
I whispered over and over
into the sweetness of her yielding
The opening of the heart is not a pain
but a deep joy that flows
out when every seam and stitch cracks open
that unravels thread by thread
until even the fabric itself is gone

I whispered over and over to the sweetness of her healing
The opening of your heart never ceases
It comes in on the tide of breath
It goes out on the tide of breath
The whisperings of a lover
a chant, a song, a prayer to your wholeness
to the sacred awakening of the heart

Marcelina Martin, 1990

letters to kate

that it is sacred. body curves into rock curves into body ancient cold
radiates up vertebrae the body shivers is held the stone walls rise up,
succulents the color of sea foam cling to them. somewhere in the canyon bees
hum mantram of the world beginning there is no other sound. yr smell.
hawk skims the air just above our heads our shoes dry in the sun. later we
climb an old slide spread our bodies open to winter light but the shiver does
not stop.

we lie in warm sand circled by boulders listening to the creek slide past.
head nestles in breast arms legs around & through. nothing moves but the
heart. This peace new and familiar this fire. membranes dissolve. and
galaxies star systems yr mouth finds mine we go down to rise again the
constellations exhale. to enter once more the still center as shadows spread
across pale stone.

                                                 

 -Joan Iten Sutherland

Double Phoenix

She speaks burgundy birds
blue gold wings flowers indolent on her breasts
she moves slowly her hair curled tightly
hands skimming my thighs she whispers into my ear
I want you my vulva shivers clenches
her mouth takes me her
tongue tells long dancing stores of flight
stars darkness burst
fingers flicker in my bones
she enters me in the moment when my blood begs her
hard deep light lifts from my lips
whirls moves tightly her mouth shivers
birds appear in my hands
my toes skim stars
I'm wings in the night sky crying out in her breasts
my hips wetflowers

- Chrystos