Do You Not Know That I Need To Touch You

Do you not know that I need to touch you

as I touch a fruit or child?

Knowledge I need of you that comes not with words.

Let me touch your hair, your moving lip,

the bone beneath the gentle skin.

I will not harm you - I do not want your sex.

Trust me to touch you and to leave you whole.

Frances Horovitz (1938-83)