Love Poem: Black Scarlet (Love In the 2nd Degree)
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Written by: Val Murah

Black Scarlet (Love In the 2nd Degree)

are we crazy or just contrived 
lazy or simply self-involved? 
are we insignificant, significant 
or just like everyone else 
deranged on the outside 
swimming through dead oceans in our heads 

am i death or am i over-simplified 
is my breath as thick as the painted eye lashes 
that stick to your eyes? 
are you in love with your anemia 
or anemic to love 
breathing came so easy 
now you're lucky to get one 
mouthful 

forever in ruins or ruined to become 
pinned to pages or pinned under thumb 
like the bleeding nape of a baby 
thorough true to yourself 
under circumstance we are death-like 
only because we know we can 

the heart 
like a thick abscess of black mucus 
pumping sweet death to all who may ask 
now clogged with regret 
regret for the living 
regret for the loving 
love of anemia 
anemia of love