Denise Levertov




Eros

The flowerlike
animal perfume
in the god’s curly
hair — 

don’t assume
that like a flower’s
his attributes
are there to tempt

you or
direct the moth’s
hunger — 
simply he is
the temple of himself,

hair and hide
a sacrifice of blood and flowers
on his altar

if any worshipper
kneel or not.