I will say Yes to Life
and meet him in the market-place,
openly-
between the stalls where all can see us consorting,
tasting avidly
from all the baskets
and the many sacks of condiments and bread-stuffs
and rich late summer's fare.

I will say Yes
and join with him
the dancers in the public square
and tap out rhythms
gay and joyously articulate
of Now.

With such a partner
and in such a place,
mid so much fullness,
my gnawed-off heels will know new balance
and support,
my hips will
lightly bear the burden of my heart,
and shoulders entertain the sway
and flow of fingers
from my outstretched hand.

Let the tambourines
ripple out their music.

Let the market women point
and loosely flap their red-tipped tongues!
I have learned a rhyme
to blink their evil eye
And if it works? What bounty!
And if it fails?
There still has been the journey to the Fair!