The question I long to ask you br spills over my tongue br hits my teeth br And I swallow it down like Cuervo and lime br How long can I stand to savor br this salt encrusted parody of life? br To have these questions burn my throat br all the way to my toes br and back again br Just this one time I would like to be brave br to spit out this masticated obsession br purge my soul br empty as an Easter morning tomb br regain my purity br and never be sated br For the question is my poison br Cleopatra's asp and Shakespearean hemlock br But instead I binge on self doubt br and continue to let the questions br (which my heart has already answered) br kill me by degreesbr br Gainor Ventresco Laneybr br