Beneath My Hands

##### Beneath My Hands by Leonard Cohen

Beneath my hands

your small breasts

are the upturned bellies

of breathing fallen sparrows.

Wherever you move

I hear the sounds of closing wings

of falling wings.

I am speechless

because you have fallen beside me

because your eyelashes

are the spines of tiny fragile animals.

I dread the time

when your mouth

begins to call me hunter.

When you call me close

to tell me

your body is not beautiful

I want to summon

the eyes and hidden mouths

of stone and light and water

to testify against you.

I want them

to surrender before you

the trembling rhyme of your face

from their deep caskets.

When you call me close

to tell me

your body is not beautiful

I want my body and my hands

to be pools

for your looking and laughing.

###### KEEP READING

###### SOURCE

This poem appeared in Selected Poems, 1956-1968 by Leonard Cohen, published by Bantam Books, 1971. Shared here with deep gratitude.

###### ENDNOTES

- Read more poems by [Leonard Cohen](https://readalittlepoetry.com/poetry/leonard-cohen/) • Find books by this poet • Or [view my library](https://readalittlepoetry.com/library/)

- Explore other works in pursuit of: — • — • — • Or [browse the index](https://readalittlepoetry.com/index/)

###### DEAR READER

This little corner of the world is my passion project [since 2005](https://readalittlepoetry.com/about/)*.* My commitment is that it will always remain free to all. If this place holds meaning for you, would you consider supporting it? This can be in the form of [a cup of coffee](https://ko-fi.com/readalittlepoem) (+ [other ways](https://readalittlepoetry.com/support/)).

Note that *Read A Little Poetry* may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through any links on this site. It is at no additional cost to you and helps in the upkeep of this space.

Thank you for being here all these years—and into the future—as I hold poets to the light.