Canto I -- "Prey"
She smiled at me and sat down
close to me...
"hello,"
she said.
"you're beautiful,"
i said.
"thank you,"
she said, blushing.
"I have to go,"
i said,
and hurried away...
© 1997 heath houston
Canto II -- "words"
"do you love me?"
she asked.
"no..."
I replied.
"why not?"
she asked.
"because you'd cut me with it."
© 1997 heath houston
Canto III -- "supine"
"your eyes are so pretty,"
she said.
"they're eyes."
"so full of ice,"
she said, sadly.
"it fills the empty spaces."
"is this better?"
she asked, holding me closer.
"no..."
i said, fearing the smell of her.
© 1997 heath houston
Canto IV -- "understandings"
"what do you want?"
she said, stroking my hair.
"assurance, promises, hope,"
i answered.
"i can't give you that."
"i didn't ask,"
i said, rising from bed.
"but you desire it,"
she prompted.
"i gave up on it,"
i answered, dressing.
"i don't love you,"
she said from over my shoulder.
"i know,"
i said, closing the door behind me.
© 1997 heath houston
Canto V -- "semantics"
"what is love?"
she asked.
"pain."
"always?"
she asked.
"yes. always,"
i answered.
© 1997 heath houston
Canto VI -- "emulsion"
"Do you know what I mean?"
she said.
"no... i never do."
"you don't listen,"
she said.
"I always listen, you just never make sense."
"what do you mean?"
she asked.
"do you love me or hate me?"
i asked in return.
"both,"
she said...
© 1997 heath houston
Canto VII -- "real"
"what do you believe in?"
she asked.
"nothing,"
i replied.
"not even yourself?"
she asked.
"especially,"
i said.
"did you ever?"
she asked.
"yes."
"in what?"
she asked.
"dreams,"
i answered.
"but no longer?"
she inquired.
"they were only dreams."
© 1997 heath houston
Canto VIII -- "humor"
"you're hateful,"
she said.
"no reason not to be,"
i muttered.
"what about love?"
she asked.
"i hate it too,"
i stated.
"why?"
she asked.
"it makes me want to look over my shoulder."
© 1997 heath houston
Canto IX -- "better"
"why are you so cynical?"
she asked.
"because i know better,"
i replied in a bored tone.
"better than what?"
she asked.
"better than to ask..."
© 1997 heath houston
Canto X -- "touch"
"your eyes are hard,"
she said.
"they are,"
i agreed.
"but your hands are soft,"
she said, moving under my caress.
"yes,"
i replied.
"why is that?"
she asked.
"because I can love you with my hands,"
i said.
"but not your eyes?"
"eyes are windows of the heart,"
i said.
"poetry..."
she whispered.
"pain..."
i replied...
© 1997 heath houston
Canto XI -- "admissions"
"that was nice,"
she said, lighting a cigarette.
"yes,"
i agreed, looking through smoke.
"i love you,"
she said, laying her head on my chest.
"i love you too,"
i said, my fingers woven into her hair.
"why do you sound so pained when you say that?"
she asked.
"because it hurts,"
i sighed.
© 1997 heath houston
Canto XII -- "Belief"
"i don't believe in you."
"that's okay,"
she replied.
"you're not hurt?"
i asked, my eyes lowered.
"i might be"
she said hesitantly.
"what should i do?"
i asked, this time meeting her eyes.
"that's a question for another time,"
she gently pushed me to my knees.
"and another person?"
i asked.
"you're beautiful,"
she said, after a pause.
"thank you,"
i bowed my head, blushing slightly.
"i have to go,"
she said,
and kissed my head.
© 1997 heath houston