Tender
                      for Avleen
   
Show me a silhouette dancing in the doorway
reciting the order of operations with a lover's lilt
and I'll show you how to be tender

Show me how to coil around your forearms
like tomato vines caressing electric current
and I'll show you how to be tender

Show me the patient bleeding of days
from black to purple to blue and back
and I'll show you how to be tender

Show me the augur that pierces through
protective layers and divines your every answer
and I'll show you how to be tender