Stone (a terzanelle)

[Leanne]

Revision 26/7/11

I am a peach with poison seed.
You stroke my skin and think me warm --
I’m death to every mouth I feed.

Beneath the surface, insects swarm
and seek to break this fleshy cage;
you stroke my skin and think me warm

but what you feel is buzzing rage
that stings me as I cry, I cry
and seek to break this fleshy cage.

Inside the seed is dry, so dry,
and cold enough to numb the thought
that stings me as I cry. I cry

for summers buried, children caught
with icecream dreams, remembered sweets
and cold -- enough to numb the thought.

A last embrace for he who eats:
I am a peach with poison seed,
with icecream dreams, remembered sweets,
I’m death to every mouth I feed.


Original 24/7/11

I am the peach, with poison seed.
You stroke my skin and think me warm --
I’m death to every mouth I feed.

Beneath the surface, insects swarm
and seek to break this fleshy cage;
you stroke my skin and think me warm

but what you feel is buzzing rage
that stings me as I cry, I cry
and seek to break this fleshy cage.

Inside the seed is dry, so dry,
and cold enough to numb the thought
that stings me as I cry. I cry

for summers buried, children caught
with icecream dreams, remembered sweets
and cold -- enough to numb the thought.

A last embrace for he who eats:
I am the peach, with poison seed,
with icecream dreams, remembered sweets,
I’m death to every mouth I feed.