– Heather Smith

I will not lose my desire.

I see them walking—
Dead women walking—
With rings on their fingers
And bells on their toes,
But there is no music.

They stand still—
Never looking,
Never watching,
Never wondering,
Never imagining,
Never straying.

Loyal lovers,
Resigned lovers,
Dead-on-the-inside lovers.

But I refuse.
I refuse to lose my desire,
My umph,
My ooh,
My ahh,
My yeah, baby, just like that.

In my mind I feel them,
See them,
Love them,
Make love to them.

Am I wrong?
Am I unfaithful?

Is it wrong, unnatural, sinful
To feel?

Yes.
But I am alive.

There is a ring on my finger
And bells on my toes,
And I have music wherever I go.