Not so much Dorian Gray as Velvet Goldmine…

For Antinous

“The curves of your lips rewrite history….” But the curves

of your lips rewrite time and space. The broad Nile hallowed

your body, your death; now your body hallows my desire.

Your lips spoke the words that the gods below honor; Persephone

welcomed you as one of her own. Welcome me, Antinous, when

I stand beneath the cypress trees and speak your name, O beautiful one.

I dream of marrying young men who come virgin and innocent

to my bed, fresh and chaste yet full of passion. I dream of

impossible boys. I dream of eyes that see only me and smiles

that light up the universe. I dream of a lover who is moon

to my sun, night to my day, and only on waking do I realize

all the loves of my dreams are you. Beautiful, just, benevolent,

you welcome me to your court, and I stand silent and abashed

among beautiful boys and voluble men, proud goddesses

and elegant divae, poets, athletes, educators. Of this fate

I can only dream, yet your open hand beckons me.

The curves of your lips rewrite time and space and open a gate

for new gods. The curls of your hair intoxicate like Dionysus’;

the carriage of your shoulders is as pure as Apollo’s. Like Hermes

you swiftly rush and bring speech to the hearers, bear messages

between those parted. The beauty of your buttocks could count

you among the Erotes; the tenderness of your gaze is like

no other’s. No other god has your hold on my heart, beautiful

boy, on my loins, on my breath; your beauty illuminates

beauty, your passion illuminates truth, your vitality burns

in the darkness, and when I turn to you, I know for certain

that this is where my life comes from.