To the Wretched Love

To Love
An ode
A champagne toast
To Thee 
That wretched mongrel 
Who tears it's teeth into the left breast
To Love
The unyielding contract I sign my soul to 
The branding autograph on my heart
To Love 
The reckless tyrant of my heartbeat
Dictator to the town in my chest
To Love 
Who I must be a burnt sacrifice for 
The one who demands me to leap off a cliff for
To Love
Who pulverizes me then mends me
The ambivalent paradox
To Love 
Who sets me on fire
But if I am able to receive 
Even an iota of this flaming love
It would then be a pleasure 
To burn for. 


-anna sluder 

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