Loves
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
“My old dreams disappeared when you arrived.” ~ La Bohème
Nine thousand million people, even more,
Have known those operatic karats in
Aortas. Arteries have felt them pour
Or felt them like the butterfly the pin
Stabbed through its thorax. Always slivers, gold
Or diamond, glitter up around the halls
Inside the chest and fish hooks take their hold
Inside the marrow of the bones. The walls
Of ribs begin to sing a yellow sound
Or facets of the bezels make a song
Of angles flashing rainbows to confound,
Titanium archangels in a throng.
But sometimes love comes more like splintered lead
With fever, swelling, muscle pain inbred.
~ Phillip Whidden