forever or else for good 

you tell me i am a pear tree.
my love i am the rat.
give me enough turtles 
to last this moon. all i want
is to be your metal bowl
of blueberry farewell. before 
i met you i believed i was 
an obelisk. now i know
i am a toothpick in the mouth
of whatever forest births me.
if i would have know 
i would be gutted as a shrimp
we could have skipped the breakfast talk
& the fire tunnel & just been 
your mail men. fingers on a package.
my tongue, a little slug.
let's not pretend you didn't know
i was a ghoul. let's not pretend
neither of us have stop watches.
the pears are full of worms. the worms
are full of songs neither of us
can sing. darling there are ears of corn
in the basement growing where
they shouldn't be able to grow.
i tried to keep the dog alive. i tried
to kill rabbits. i could not.
they stared at me with eyes 
made of blue potatoes & credit cards.
i would give you my teeth 
if it meant being loved again
in the way only brine can love
the body. if you will not make me eternal 
i will do it for myself. i will go
& kiss stones. i will go 
putting bees in my mouth.
let them build whatever comb
they crave. do you want 
to still watch a movie. i replaced
my soul with a television.