I put our books face to face br so they could talk. br They whispered about us. br br I put yours on top of mine. br They would not mate. br br Like poor dumb pandas in the London Zoo, br they would not come together. br br I put them back to back. br They would not sleep. br br I put them right side up to upside down. br They would not lick each other's wounds. br br The night we met br you fed me fish eggs & dark beer. br We spoke of animals & Shakespeare. br You talked about acidic inks & papers. br You told me how our books digest themselves. br br You laid the pages of your body over mine. br You printed my face with kisses. br The letters fell into a heap under our bed. br The sheets were dust. br The fish eggs swam our mouths.