Today I stole your teeth

Today I stole your teeth
Under the guise of a dentist. This
Must be why we distrust them.
How can we tell what demon hides
Behind the grinning mask? How can we
Unmask the theatre of skeletons?
Nevertheless you opened without resistance.
From your bloodied sucking cavern I retrieved
Your molar. I am not greedy, and kissed
Only this single throbbing glory.
Out of your sight, of course.

Today I have taken your white perch and
Pressed it into the ground. It bit into the soil
Like a vengeful seed, hard like stone,
Stapled my wish firmly in place:
May it grow and bloom. I want a fruit tree in
My garden. I want your roots to plant firmly,
Greedy and filthy into my land and stretch
Far and wide, as far and as wide as the terrible
Fumes of yours spread in my mind.

Today I have the first fruits. Far too cold
To be harvest season, they shiver in the wind and
I dreamt of the trembling of your bloody
Parted lips. The wish was for an apple tree
But I had to be punished for planting a
Stolen seed so I reaped only sour
Bruised fists of plums. They are ripe and
Taut. I thought back to years ago.
Your hair. Your dazed eyes winking against
Brutal light. I should have taken one more.
I am greedy without atonement.
Oh the sin, the sin! A harsh claim, a kiss,
Or a bite, and the sour juice is enough for tears.
They are rotten with
All that waiting.