Tango Poem by Suzanne Hayasaki

Do the dance of death with me.
Dip me.
Spin me.
Take the rose from between my teeth
And crush it beneath your heel.
Let me know I’m not getting out of this alive!

I see now that you are el Diablo
And I am no angel.
Maybe I’m meant to be in Hell
Tormented by the flames
Faced with all my transgressions
Made to see the truth:
That primal desire has brought me to this place.

Your horns and cloven hooves were invisible to me
In the upper world, where you first wooed me.
All I could see was that mischievous grin
And that maleficent glint in your cold grey eyes
And, to my surprise, I found that I liked it.

So take me to our bed of thorns.
Make me writhe in the ecstasy
That you ignite in me
With every smile
Every bite
Every thrust.
If I must be damned
So be it.

I have no need to be free
Of you.