<nims' "love poem"> 2004-04-27.7:10 p.m. Love Poem John Frederick Nims My clumsiest dear, whose hands shipwreck vases, At whose quick touch all glasses chip and ring, Whose palms are bulls in china, burs in linen, And have no cunning with any soft thing, Except all ill-at-ease fidgeting people: The refugee uncertain at the door, You make at home: deftly you steady The drunk clambering on his undulant floor. Unpredictable dear, the taxi driver's terror, Shrinking from far headlights pale as a dime Yet leaping before red apoplectic streetcars-- Misfit in any space. And never on time. A wrench in clocks and the solar system. Only With words and people and love you move at ease, In traffic of wit expertly manoeuver And keep us, all devotion, at your knees. Forgetting your coffee staining our flannel, Your lipstick spreading on our coat, So gayly in love's unbreakable heaven Our souls on glory of spilt bourbon float. Be with me darling, early and late. Smash glasses-- I will study wry music for your sake. For should your hands drop white and empty All the toys of the world would break. back /& forth /& frosting names are often sad