Internal Rhythm

1.

His knuckles have gotten thicker
He's learned to turn his voice to silk
   to convince and to caress
He has finally learned how to kiss
and how to cook asparagus
and how to contain his rage in public

He squares himself into computer columns
by day
but at night he dreams of the ocean
He becomes dark, cool, wild
responding to an unpredictable tug
from every direction

In his dreams he swells
and recedes
but not like clockwork
never like clockwork.