Majestic Paradox

   WILL YOU MARRY ME?

the fruits of mothers’ labor

yet untouched and ripening

am I to be the center   or you?

perhaps an eye or tooth is meaningless

time  space  gravity

threads of fate unsnipped

the center mine   or yours

the choice ours

who will be the wine   who the raisin?

the vat or drying screen

feet all round

balled and heeled to pulp

strained and filtered then

bottled and shelved

or naked sun worshipper

arranged on screen

burnt eyes and shriveled then

boxed and shelved

each awaits the opening of hunger

the skewered cork  the peeled back cardboard

the fruits of mothers’ labor

unshelved and open

to the air of home

untouched by human hands