By the sun flooded window
a single rose opens like a hand

secrets that we carry like
bombs, detonate

shrapnel finds a home in our
hearts

bruised ribs break like the stem of a flower

in the hands of an impatient child

we walk knowingly into the ocean, collecting water in

our cupped hands. Letting it trickle away from us back into

the sea. We are part of a cycle now, in one simple, selfish act

we take life into our mouths when we kiss

twisting it between our teeth, tonguing it like an ulcer

wet, red lips that beg without
begging

a single rock can start an avalanche and we are

many. Heavy footed in the snow, we take death

into our mouths when we kiss, bite down hard into its

flesh. A peach that sits comfortably in a hand

ripe and ready before rotting. How do we know it's death

we're tasting? When the buds of life remain

unopened