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Poem Where I Be a Doe & You, by Effect, Are a Wolf

by Danez Smith

lay me down on eye-white snow

    my slow brooding bed of robin wings

my body slit & smearing everywhere.

    I will not name this new opening a wound.

here, there is no pain I didn't beg for.

    I heard the howl, didn't dare run.

stood waiting for the sweet blades

    of jaw & claw. you found me

wasted no time making a myth

    of my thigh, my flesh turned to wind

the earth under me wet with my life.

    I pray this is what they mean by always

that heaven is a persistent mouth.

    Baby, I want you forever this way:

fangs covered in me, moon dyed red

    bouncing off front teeth, my body

only certain how to twitch, your belly

    round with my joy.

“Poem Where I Be a Doe & You, by Effect, Are a Wolf", from [INSERT] BOY by Danez Smith. Copyright © 2014 by Danez Smith. Used by permission of YesYes Books.