i
To understand
each other: anything
but that, & to avoid it
I will suspend my search for
germs if you will keep
your fingers off the microfilm
hidden inside my skin
ii
I approach this love
like a biologist
pulling on my rubber
gloves & white labcoat
You flee from it
like an escaped political
prisoner, and no wonder
iii
You held out your hand
I took your fingerprints
You asked for love
I gave you only descriptions
Please die I said
so I can write about it
