Valentine

the sway of sea water stomached,

this rising-falling this drowning

it is black-spotted in broad daylight

it is five months alone now

it is Valentine’s Day today

the red

wraps my cut wrists, the red

teases with ribbon lips against my throat

the singed edges on this picture I am holding, of your owl’s teeth

last summer and the last summer, sweating honey, hooting

the smallest hairs on your head in my hands

downy fluff, little razors

I don’t want to go back I don’t want to go back

to the loneliness with you

roosting inside my ribcage, whispering secrets

the oil slicks under your tongue,

under your sheets,

all in our bed, our beautiful bed

I don’t want to go back I don’t want to go back

the trip wires you set the trap doors

you shining spotlight teeth across the room,

swords in your dresser drawers, laughing,

“just take your armor off!”

but

it is Valentine’s Day today

the red

snakes under my skirt, reminds me

we planted seeds in each other’s skin and I am

still cutting the stems

the act of loving is beautiful in itself

the heart can’t be blamed, can it

and I did love you, didn’t I

miss you I don’t want to

go back go back go back