The Knife
By Jean Valentine
In my sleep:
Fell at his feet wanted to eat him right up
would have but
even better
he talked to me.
Did I ask you to?
Were those words my blood-sucking too?
Now I will have a body again
move differently, easier back to the plan
a little house a woman and a man
crossed against yours my soul will show
glow through my breastbone:
Back down into the kitchen
yours
Here I will save you
others have failed, even died, but I
will save you you save me devour me away
up
Woke up:
I can cry but I can’t wake up
today again don’t answer the door
then did couldn’t look at you talk
couldn’t place the bed in the room, or where the room was
when I closed my eyes
This is the same old knife my knife
I know it as well as I know my own mouth
It will be lying there on the desk if
I open my eyes I will know the room very well
there will be the little thrown-out globe of blood we left
and every molecule of every object here will swell
with life. And someone will be at the door.