Stationery Love Songs

i.            Pencil

 

I long to find you, push

my dreams along your skin

in curves, sharp lines, crossings,

commas, dots

I stroke your body

with my gentle words

each line I draw

diminishes my strength.

I turn,

press my point

how you relinquish

yourself

in silent obedience,

your pale complexion

receives my body,

transubstantiates;

your roots of the earth,

mine of an older form.

We bring forth drafts,

messages,

pages becoming pages

books pressing hard together

on library shelves.

 

 

ii.            Ink

 

I balance myself

like human milk

in small breaths.

I am your

liniment.

You think me

promiscuous,

consume me so tightly

I cannot breathe.

I am airless, struggle

to be free, to bleed ransom

notes, registers, signatures.

 

 

iii.            Pen

 

I confess you have been in my heart

for no good reason, since I was formed.

I am compelled to reach you

in your cold bed.

I draw you into me,

my scalpel thirst unremitting.

You pour from me like a wound

in dots, letters, words, sentences,

parentheses of unrequited love.

 

 

iv.            Paper

 

Feel my innocent expanse

spread out before you

open to your soft touch

you can sketch your ambitions

on me, head to foot.

Pierce me with your sharp instruments,

oh, my cartographer

show me small England.

Place your hemispheres

across my broken heart.

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