Recently, a friend of mine made this piece of poetry public on her web log. It was originally a restricted posting but with her permission I am reproducing it here. When I first read the piece I was slightly worried by how much it resonated with things I have felt about certain people in the past, but ultimately I was touched at some deep level by it and in the end I just had to ask permission to publish it here. Thank you Lizzie for helping me to see more clearly…
You are my canvas — Elizabeth Ward, 2005-07-02
I'm here to make verse on your skin And I'll smile as the blade sinks in And I'll cry as I pour my love into you Because you will choose not to see why I do what I do And I kiss your mouth through the cloth And I tell you there's nothing we've lost And it's just that I don't want our song To be halted by screams that alert those who think we are wrong So I hungrily lap up your tears Look confused into eyes filled with fear And I take your hand, which I press To dispell your needless distress I lift your chin with the blade And frown as you half turn away By averting your eyes you destroy my disguise And there's still one more act left to play I draw close to indulge in our sin And whisper again and again That I love you and need you I'll clothe and I'll feed you I just want to carve verse in your skin You are my canvas My angel My darling My muse I am your lover Your artist Your keeper Your slave