Communion Offering

 
I bring you purity
not of white, of light, of ice
but purity of blood
that temperamental, precious element – 
red, rich, warm, salt
aged through the ages and in my age
running ever new
the pulse of loyalty
to our human-ness
the fearsome taint of living this has done
a kind of Purity
I bring to you
 
(1960s)