Charles’ Battle

How he battled
the pull of her hair
deeper than darkness
he used to drink it
along with his other
appetites
the sea of her loins

How he wrestled
her beauty
hiding behind
the next inky scratch
so visible shuddering
within
so coarsely mocking
without

And then he raced
ink everywhere
captured he brought
her down on paper
and fell asleep
into her dream

But morning saw her
just another ball of paper
crushed and bruised
under the table

Ulf Wolf
September 1996