gateway drug

i drink the dredges of 

your arrogance

and bitter temper. 

you know me more 

and love me less; this 

row of teeth sharpens around

us. 

it’s orchids growing 

from your [BODY 

PART]

over and over; why 

do you hunt deer? my dear

they are so beautiful. 

it’s orchids growing

in the rotting 

soil between us. 

my love, behind the 

barrel of my gun, 

your hawk is a dove. 

beautiful dove, why do 

you hunt deer? 

i have whined around this 

bullet for some years 

too many. 

today, it burrows out the 

back of my ribs; nudges out of 

some intercostal space. 

orchids grow from the exit wound. 

i splutter like a dying old car;

your remnants fall out of me. 

my gun, why do you hunt deer?

my dear, they are so beautiful.