POETRY: ‘My Black Widow Love’

Contributed by: Talisa Appleby, business major 

I knew what it was called, but I didn’t dare speak its name.

It was a dangerous endeavor, to toy with this love game.

Such blissful naiveté we felt, exploring “p-o-l-y-amor-y.”

One heart, two loves, but such a contemptuous blasphemy.

We giggled as our passion burned between stolen kisses;

We ignored the scornful looks reproaching our wishes.

I held each of your hands in one of mine, fingers thus entwined,

Steady. Strong. Protective of our love I thus enshrined.

The lashes across your faces and backs grew too painful to bear,

From the judging eyes of a world where we’re spiders who ensnare,

Not entirely wrong as we’re wrapping, twirling, cocooning up our rage…

Until the threads burst. No more. From my embrace, you’re free! Disengage.

Though I pine for you, I whine, and I still, I swear, everything will be fine…

I will shadow you. I’ll cover you. Let me shelter your loves I called mine.

But back I creep into the dark, taboo crevasse I call my home…

Our past I’ll keep within myself, a treasure I’ll forever entomb.