margaret atwood

[withnothing]

more and more frequently the edges
of me dissolve and i become
a wish to assimilate the world, including
you, if possible through the skin
like a cool plant's tricks with oxygen
and live by a harmless green burning.

i would not consume
you, or ever
finish, you would still be there
surrounding me, complete
as the air.

unfortunately i don't have leaves.
instead i have eyes
and teeth and other non-green
things which rule out osmosis.

so be careful, i mean it,
i give you a fair warning:

this kind of hunger draws
everything into its own
space; nor can we
talk it all over, have a calm
rational discussion.

there is no reason for this, only
a starved dog's logic about bones.