You Said It Was Simple to Love Me

I stared out the window behind you
at dying birch trees while we sat

in a half empty cafeteria, talking
about the parts of ourselves we would

lose to each other. I rearranged
pieces of brown rice, left on the table

by the diners before us, playing out
our scenario. You still taste sour to me

like cherry stems tied with tongues, a feeble
attempt to knot us together. I ask myself

if I could I bring myself to love you,
a fabrication with hair like long needle

pine straw and skin made from moth wings,
a monster because you can love me.

back to issue

Donald Paris has recently graduated from Queens University of Charlotte's Creative Writing MFA Program. His work has appeared in Camel Saloon, Sonic Boom, and Eunoia Review.