Restrictions and Struggles

In Praise of Pain

by Heather McHugh

A brilliance takes up residence in flaws—

a brilliance all the unchipped faces of design

refuse. The wine collects its starlets

at a lip’s fault, sunlight where the nicked

glass angles, and affection where the eye

is least correctable, where arrows of

unquivered light are lodged, where someone

else’s eyes have come to be concerned.

For beauty’s sake, assault and drive and burn

the devil from the simply perfect sun.

Demand a birthmark on the skin of love,

a tremble in the touch, in come