Failed Sestina

With my ear to the door

of my cell. And my want

like a comb in my hair.

Like a veil where there is no

veil. With a ring in my ear.

A ring in the hole in my ear.

I rap at the door of my will

and the door of my want

as to will them away. My

want like a veil on the floor.

I appear at the door of my

will with a veil in my hand

and a comb in my hair.

My want like a hole that

I bore in the floor.

Where my will is more

feeling than veil, and my veil

is more want for a veil

than a veil. I wear the comb

of my fear in my hair.

My veil is as thin as my want,

and my want is as thin

as a hair. When I curl up my

want in the curl of my hair.

When I curl up on the floor

of the cell of my want.

I bear my fear in my cells

like I’m bearing a ring.

Like I’m curled up inside

of the ring in my ear.

I rap at my want for a door

where there is no door.

A will where there is no will.

At my want for unveiling.

My will to unveil it. The curve

of my will and my ear

to the door. With the curl

of my ear to the door. Not

the door but my fear of the door.