“On a night of the full moon”
by Audre Lorde
from Cables to Rage, 1970
I
Out of my flesh that hungers
and my mouth that knows
comes the shape I am seeking
for reason.
The curve of your body
fits my waiting hand
your flesh warm as sunlight
your lips quick as young birds
between your thighs the sweet
sharp taste of limes.
Thus I hold you
frank in my heart’s eye
in my skin’s knowing
as my fingers conceive your flesh
I feel your stomach
curving against me.
Before the moon wanes again
we shall come together.
II
And I would be the moon
spoken over your beckoning flesh
breaking against reservations
beaching thought
my hands at your high tide
over and under inside you
and the passing of hungers
attended, forgotten.
Darkly risen
the moon speaks
my eyes
judging your roundness
delightful.
Audre Lorde’s work is goose-bumps powerful heard in her own voice. I couldn’t find her reading this particular poem, which I love, but if you search for her in YouTube, you can find recordings of many of her readings. Below is her sharing aloud her (truly life-changing) essay “Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic As Power.” I can’t think of a better way to spend 23 minutes of your day, listening while you walk or cook or lie down.
