Holding

by Alice Notley

I have come to you
      past rules unspoken
  I am in another “time” as I tell
I’m standing before you then flowing in.
      This group of words stands
     then flows through and on I am in
   your language I ask you to obey no
one I ask you to eat less to dream more to
     find me in your heart the core of you
    you are thou the beloved anyone and we
       the universe these the beautiful
     sayings that and enter and linger
       not really to pass I ask you
     not to suffer I ask you to let
   suffering dissolve into me
     the cloud that passes the mist
   without appointments whose
      arrows are soft it is to be
    the only condition and is in you
        find it separating out from
         tasks of rigid obedience
    I hold and seem to pass but I
      always hold you have only’
     to remember that you are held
    cut to pieces you are not cut
         do nothing bad to others you’
      have always been with them
           and will be do not obey them
       or ask obedience you are loosely
     connected in an equality of com-
   munication of holy minds held to-
     gether no form no symmetry no duty