the hand knows it’s own gestures he said

as I tucked his hand inside mine

this hand is mine i said a doubtless gold mine

see these furrows where i find treasure

and yet at the same time his hand

would drop sometimes lifeless and stupid

when we would see a couple on the path

whether or not they were straight

and i examined his palm to establish longevity

but age lines grow longer with age

and offhandedly I mentioned

you must belong to the third sexuality

...where hands refuse to be lovers

august 7 2003

banff ab