I remember now, br how my dirty ideas stood on the threshold of your eyes br and how you asked me to clean the words br before you could let them inside. br br so I did, I washed the sentences with my tongue, l br icking them off like a mother beast does br her new-born beastly child. br my meanings, after all, belonged better out in the wild. br br you rebuked them for their sour flavor, br saying how unfit they were for you to devour. br br never, in my life had I br regretted something so much: br letting you come inside my mind br to approve of the wall-paper. br br it was only your voice I longed to hear br praising my insignificant labor.