Why dear, I ask her. br In my mind, somebody fallen in love br Has been jilted. br But things are simpler. br br ‘Her parents had strange diseases…..' br That baffles me. br br I think of AIDS, of nothing in particular, br But drift to the silent body br Of a young girl, and her puberty, br Laid among the freshly done roses. br br Don't lose focus dear, I tell her, br And end the conversation with a telephone kiss. br br Back in my mind, a young girl, br The poison she ran to, br Lips gone cold, on thresholds of beauty, br And a mind cut inside salted flesh, br Baked in sprouting alphabets of love.