a valentine

love says, I am the bark of a tree

I will wrap up your unquiet heart
until you can shed the shame,
carve your own initials in your
naked, trepidatious soul

love says, I am an animal

like a racehorse with good teeth and strong legs

I stand under the streetlight

and wait for your forgotten urge

to undo all your buttons

love says, I am the holes

in your breath

where cathedrals are built

love says, YES.

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