THE BUTTERFLIES FILLED MY GUT
WITH EACH TIME THE SONG OF
MY NAME ESCAPED YOUR LIPS,
SANG WITH SUCH A PASSION—
PASSION THAT FILLS THE OCEAN
AS SHE KISSES THE SAND
TIME AND TIME AGAIN

AND O, WHEN YOU DRANK, I
MYSELF BECAME INTOXICATED
ALONG SIDE YOU, NOT OFF
DRINK BUT OFF THE WAY YOUR
EYES LIT UP AS YOU HELD ME TIGHT
AND DANCED ME
ACROSS YOUR ROOM—
THEY SHONE WITH SUCH A LIGHT
THAT THE STARS THEMSELVES GREW JEALOUS

AND O, YOUR TOUCH HOW WARM
IT FELT, WARMTH COMPETING
WITH THAT OF THE GLOWING FIRE
THAT SPAT AT US IN THE NIGHT
AS YOUR HANDS PRESSED OUR BARE BODIES CLOSER—
AS IF THIS NIGHT TOGETHER
WOULD BE OUR LAST

BUT I SAW THE LIGHT IN YOUR EYES
START TO FADE AS
WE SPENT MORE AND MORE
TIME APART AND
I FELT YOUR TOUCH
GROW COLDER WITH EACH
PASSING KISS AND WORST OF ALL
THE BUTTERFLIES STARTED TO SWARM—
CHOKING ME
FROM THE INSIDE OUT
BECAUSE I JUST
DON’T HAVE THE STOMACH
TO HEAR YOU SAY MY NAME SO EMPTY ANYMORE.