i’m addicted to touch
craving the love of another mother
from which our love blooms
like a ******* child.

arms inflamed with bees,
bones protruding in awkward angles
from our elbows
never asleep,

your back is ripped with claws
oh, how to love, they told us
lies, to keep us up at night, to keep us
trapped behind skin

little petals at your ******* fold away,
wither with red and blood, falling
as though writhing, angry
snakes. but we’re gone

disappeared behind dreams of clouds,
perpetually propelled
by great tails of thorns, by
a force grown from seed.

darling, our hearts curdled, we
stand at the hearth of a fire
kindled by secrets, burning
memories of love