i have known love

i have known love
love was ashes in my mouth
as i wept flame
love was the spear
pulsing down my side
love was the scream
ripping my throat
i have known love

i have known love
love was the sand in my mouth
as i drowned in the desert
love was the splinters
beneath my fingernails
love was the spiders
crawling on my teeth
i have known love

i have known love
love was unripened fruit
sticking to my tongue
love was cotton and silk
clinging to my legs
love was the unseen face
reaching down a hand into my hell
i have known love

5/20/01