two blood-soaked abortions (at least)and decades
of(mind)(mood)(me)(them)(-altering)birth-
control

for lack of place
for lack of safety
for gluttony of fear

my fear to bring a living thing
into the state of war
the all-against-all

so leave me, lead me inside
again and again, layer me in
your wordless moment

your clothes, your close the door
felt hard and soft and then gently
until its just us here

and those in the palaestra —
altogether(i was)(they were)flowing around us
in a circle(it would)(will surround)entirely(shelter us)by care

until now
as it becomes binding
and needful

O well-begotten, world-suffering, well-
begetting one, would you be born
could you still hear

my word to call my child
by fathers countless and guardians mighty
as your enfolding of generosity


καὶ οἱ ἐν τῇ παλαίστρᾳ
ἅπαντες περιέρρεον ἡμᾶς κύκλῳ
κομιδῇ
τότε δή
ὦ γεννάδα

Charmides 155δ
cf Aristotle nic ethics 1100b30