Because I Love You

Because I love you I have given
from myself and to - 
emulsification of green ravines 
and the putrid smell of the red grapes
and the waterfalls in graffitied backstreets 

Because I love you I had multiplied
from myself and to - 
funhouse mirrors: triplets and twins and one to none,
with my consciousness molding, 
molting into your cranium 

Because I love you I had 
relinquished all the rolling vowels
and the stolen constants 
the sweet harshness of the language
of my people, which are your people, which are
his and hers and yours again
never ours together 
but because I love you I had avenged you
and dispensed you
out to everyone to see, in pride and grief I had
forgotten you
and myself, too

Because I love you I have forgiven
from myself and to -
me, him, and him and me, and you
and the crisp distance when our cheeks don't touch
and even when they do 

Because I love you I have everything
and nothing
and all I had, I had given away
just the water weight remains
drowning in my own blood and flesh
with the whirlpool closing in
and you are at the bottom
expecting.