A Kiss For Your Heart

For E.G.

I want to peel you

So you feel the

burn of losing skin  

the rhythmic ache of shedding

Until I see muscle

The ligaments that

secure your bones

Your efficient organs

puzzled together

Use my teeth to crack open

Your chest

In pursuit of your heart

Broken, irregular, scarred

Your brittle ribs

Shatter between my teeth and  

Bring me closer to your heart

A jalopy

limping, hiccuping

to this necessary death

my teeth finally reach the tender place

where you feel

clamp down and tear away

Leave jagged edges of gristle and bone

Press my lips to this maroon jewel

made of flesh and fat

Kiss it between its staggered beats

I spit the dust and crumbs of your story 

Ruby lips glisten

Your story spoken

Re-told into next days

with my breath

I leave you

bones pressed back into wholeness

heart kissed into wholeness

body returned to wholeness

I press another breath into your lips

The exhalation of spirit

You live.