How have you inked
this palpitant heart?
Well, let me tell you:
Your barbs extend
long and deep and far,
far enough to pierce
skin of my resistance
with needlepoint of
your persistence.
But not only skin
deep; you refuse to
settle for what I
had to offer, deep--
you broke skin and
plunged deeper than
anyone ever did go
pierced right through
very venal lining
polluted my bloodstream
with your insistence
infusing ink of thought
rushing in its onslaught
sucked through mitral
port into my ventricle
left graffitied and stained
your ink spreading toxin
\'til all my breath is you