we stayed up late, us girls
and I talked
I talked about loving two boys
and liking girls
and sometimes how I'd purge
and she said, "maybe, I think
you need each other."
she was a russet orchid
already tainted.
then another, later night
I talked of
starlit trysts and yearning
and many a poisoned thing
the things she told me left me
twisted inside...
she was wilder
more beautiful
stronger than any bloomthese little L's sometimes creep
back into my memory
and once again
twist me inside until
I'm unrecognizable