there are roses blooming under
your skin. i trace them with breath
& fingers, watch the petals unfold
through your blood, a garden-grown
death like no other. you come from
white stone cloisters & soft-singing
fountains, know nothing of the sea
& her depths that swallow light, the
sea & her fingers that wove into my
lungs long ago, infected them with
saltwater & did not release me. now,
(we) the sea & her waves hunger to
swallow (you &) all this illumination.
(you &) the flowers that you twine
into my hair, the desire in me unknown,
unlit. (you &) your inhalation of gold,
exhalation of silver. all this light

(& you & you & you.)