I want a darling not afraid of knives,

in love with the oil and the stone. Who knows

how to hone against bone. My flesh thrives

with pain, with slash seasons, with primrose

-hued welts. What do I need with a summer,

bastard dogwood galore? or an autumn

with lake storms pitching across the sour

waves? What we have is a fist, the wisdom

a fist brings holding a knife. I am yours

for the cleaving, for the euphoric heat

carved in. My skin is ornament enough,

and my will shall be done. Darling, let gore’s

soul guide you through all this gristle and meat

to my trifle of flesh, slash season’s stuff.