Valentine from KC.03 by Ken Clinger

Valentine (Winnie Santiago)

The beast in Crane’s desert
Rips out his own heart

A courtly lady
Consumes her lovers’

Thyestes the Greek
Has a family feast

Hearts

On this day of my birth
We eat them
By the boxful

Hot cinnamon
Jellied
Chocolate covered

A lovers communion
We receive our hosts
Cherry juice
Sweet and sticky
Dribbling
All down our chins

Hail to thee
Oh Cupid
Pink little devil

Hail to thee
Wing-ed little pig

Hail to thee
Oh Cupid

Pierce us with arrows
Poison us with passion

Hail to thee
Serve up our hearts
On a skewer

Hail to thee
Oh cupid

Bless-ed is your quiver of twigs.
Bless-ed are their sharpened tips.
Bless-ed is the sap they bleed.

Bless-ed sap,
Fresh and sticky.
Bless-ed sap,
Thicker than blood.

• Pop
• indie
• Pittsburgh