I am afraid of you
afraid of your woman's mouth and its riddles
I am afraid of what you want from me
what you want to say to me
I am afraid of my memories
and my stark, white, knife-sharp, evil-ugly betrayal

I am afraid of what will come from the moment of our encounter
already pregnant and kicking
I want to give this labour time
but you are forcing it
here and now
you will rip the mother's hips and break the child in two
but you will have the bloody satisfaction of the reunion that you are so intent on.

I am afraid
so I am moving around you as quietly as I can
words like cat's feet
eyes as dark as oil
and breath that holds and waits when you arrive

AcB 6.7.01