You and Death and Life

Has she, then, taken my place? Did you let her in? — into your bedroom? onto your bed? into your arms? into your arms? — Has she taken my place in your heart? Is her whisper sweet? Like the sound of my whisper? — the clamour of the spring swallow, close to your ear? — — you used to say. — Are her lips hot? Like my lips? — a beautiful dancing flame, undying, in the freezing night. — — you used to say. — Are the waves of her sea full of mystery? Like the waves of my sea? — waves of shells full of the secrets of pearls. — — you used to say. — The future, the future, the future, with me running toward you. — you used to say. — Does she give life? Like me? Open your lips. Stroke my head. Blink. Look at my face, at my tears. Don’t grow cold. Don’t grow cold. Warm me. Without you I die I: life ...