Only a God Would Think of Gilding a Cavern 

Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem

“Divine I am, inside and out, and I make holy whatever I touch or am touch’d from” ~ Walt Whitman

“Divine I am, inside and out,” wrote Walt.

He says he makes things holy when they touch

Him, making holy what he holds.  (Exalt

The men and boys he kisses.)  He can clutch

Them into gold with Midas touch of male

Affection, since all-powerful this god.

Suppose that he maneuvers to impale

Them:  innards feeling golden, overawed

Will sing the praises of his poetry.

The Inner Sanctum of a lover’s hole

Will feel the rooting of his poet tree

Inside because of Whitman’s totem pole.

  His lovers feel how long and long and long

    His lines can be because a god is strong.