How Do I Love

Like a forest loves a fire,
Or a fish a hook,
Or a jaw a fist;

I love you the way the shorelines
Love the hurricanes,
And the way the trembling fawns
Love the rush of headlights
Down the county roads.

I love you the way a wrist,
White and slender,
Loves the bruises
calloused hands
Have pressed there.

The way trembling shoulders
Love the crack of a belt,
The way the tongue loves
The tang of blood,
The way you love
My tears.

Finally,
I love you the way
A throat loves a dagger,
The way the white tiles
Of your kitchen love a stain,
the way a shovel loves a grave.

I love you
The way the snake loves the mongoose
Who didn’t kill her
When he had the chance.