His Bloody Valentine

By Sarah-Maria Khoueiry

In every lifetime, in every timeline

His lips went for the neckline

Never to stop until their veins ran dry

Reverent whisper and solemn sigh,

Always the same, always in moonshine.

“Not now, not ever, not until you’re mine.”

One by one, thud by thud,

Breath by breath he swallowed their blood.

His hand went through with extra care,

Through their bones he felt it there.

A pearly white cage for a ruby prize

Pearly white knives for their demise.

Once a year, the same old pain,

An incantation and desperate refrain

“You stole from me lifetimes ago,

Now I’m after the debt you owe.

A shovel for every heart I take,

Some dirt for every year I wake

With you still gone. I won’t resign,

Not now, not ever, not until you’re mine.”