Beautiful Women




Only the beautiful women
can save us
from the end of
this cold frozen Winter,

only beautiful women
with their dark eyes
and soft souls
peering out

from fur-lined afghans
and warm sweaters,
with their promise to hold
God's directive—

to welcome us,
the hairy and unkempt,
the worn and oak-kegged,
weather boarded men...

only beautiful women,
no matter what age,
no matter how large or small,
prune wrinkly or slippery smooth,
all of them the only

glorious way we will ever
get to Spring,
to new life, to the place where
our chests beat again

with love,
banging over and over
until our ribs crack and the
light flows out—

only the beautiful women
can do it, with their
strong intent fists,
their sharp white teeth,

their grip like iron,
their incredible,
undefeatable
beauty.