I. ISABELLA'S BODY A young woman's body carved out of the dawn, high breasted, thin and willowy like a young tree. The smoothness of her skin is a wave cresting, a breeze moving, the texture of sunlight, the texture of stars. I am a secret in the house of love, whispered from mouth to mouth. She pushes laughter through a mirror and creates light; when she arches over me the earth shifts, as I enter her desire is born. The touch of her lips transforms everything, brings the moon up full and naked, silences the sun, giving a bold new life to the world.