By Joseph Childress

You're hot as Hell
Not a more accurate metaphor
For what your heart stores
Vicious love
What sin did I commit
Where apologies aren't accepted
When I repent
You have
The tongue of a serpent
And I mean that
In more ways than one
You earned the deed to my soul
And buried it
In the deepest hole
Maritime trenches
For the unforgiven
At least Adam
Was warned of what was forbidden
My lack of knowledge
Of Love
Occurred at the same time
I tried to show it
My father knows
I asked, "Momma What's Love?"
And God knows
She showed it
Better than she could explain
My missteps
When I stepped to my future "Mrs."
Missed the whole point
I stumbled on the stairs
To Heaven
And I fell straight into Hell.