yesterday        no it was Monday

Monday in my texting with Donna

I found language to convey
not only how much but in precisely what way
I love her

and she responded with grace and kindness
and capacious understanding

*

but all too often
even with Donna

I don't have the emotional language
to deal candidly and maturely
with the bigger and more "romantic"
(is that the right word?) feelings

maybe Miss Moore was right when she called
romantic love "a devouring gorgon"

"toward which        as toward wine
unfaith is renewal"