—IF MY LIFE WAS A SONG IT’D BE SINGING YOUR NAME

What Love Does

Because you asked me to

I swallowed the animal whole

heard it scream

as I crushed its breast plate

in my throat

without even bothering to

kill the thing first.

Because you asked me to

I murdered a litany of

others as well

and each death

one by one

slow or swift

impulsive or deliberate

cracked a rib in me

carved out such cavities and calamities

broke bones where

there weren’t any

sliced pupils into slits and bits

cut out a tongue

where one

no longer wagged

until I became

a garbage bag of

superfluous toxins

blood and rubble

mud and marrow

all of it

sloshing and swishing

where my heart

once sang.

Because you asked me to

I doused kerosene

across the lips of

every sweet kiss

ever rendered

in moonlight

or lamplight

by a pair

of imperfect lovers

on their one flawless night.

I tossed a match and watched

it all smolder and shriek

in slow motion

on repeat

the kiss and the flame

both beautiful

and revolting.

Love,

because

you asked me

this is the last word

I will ever write

ever read

ever think

might be worthy enough

to make you change your mind

and love me back

but as I am instead

as love

however frail or frayed

is supposed to

yearn to do.