Holly and the Ivy

Watching the dark-green leaves so tightly clinging,
Feeling the poison strands so closely growing,
Seeing the possessive creeper loving,
Strangling with living, desperate longing.

Your sharpness draws a bead of blood as red,
As round, as shining as the holly's seed -
I hold the life-blood here, till scarlet falls
Like roses in the snow. I touch my tongue
And taste the salty sweetness of the wound.
I dream your fruit like blood amidst the green.

I have grown to love the bitter thorn
That makes me bleed. All this have I borne
For you alone. And I will gently part
Your leaves to find the hotly beating heart,
So berry-red. So sweet. My vines caress
And choke. I could not love you any less.

I place a crown of thorns upon my head
Made from your leaves. And my eyes prick and bleed,
Such dying tears. Somewhere a robin calls
Across the snow. And you are still so young
Yet stained with blood. Redbreast. Today I found
Red feathers in the snow where you had been.

Watching the dark-green leaves so tightly clinging,
Feeling the poison strands so closely growing,
Seeing the possessive creeper loving,
Strangling with living, desperate longing.