Definition Poem by Donna Ialongo

love is
: rum in your stomach and
whistling the heat of it back through your teeth.
: eyes watering from formaldehyde
and green lips stung by a lime balloon

are
people love,
(feeling like a white-eyed black cat rubbing
circles around confused ankles)

hate is
: love - only opposite.
it's manure on the only diasy
and having to use an electric blanket
or making out your eyes to stand on a
street corner.

hate is
: a cross in the death throes of fire
but love is
bubble gum burst
and glued to the third grade

(November 10,1965)