“Cleopatra, I Love You” by Ian Ayres

Cleopatra, I Love You

Even if you don’t like it (my penetrating your very core & soul) my love knows no “No, no, no’s” & capitulates on planting your womb with my seed . . . Seems an ellipsis is due (forget the period). We are wordless & worldless. There is nothing but temporary hanging onto illusions of unwrapped present. You & I know we die & nothing changes a thing by asking why. Question Mark? Fuck Mark. Before Mark, others punctuated you. Yet it’s all a momentary orgasm not worth dying for — though we die, we die — you die & I die & we all die within the too-fast blink of an eye. So why not get naked among the gods; our flesh pulsating claws of exclamation! Next comes you or me awaiting the other on the other side. For eternity, Cleopatra, be my wife. Please. For I am on my knees before you. & then, with the dawn, I am gone.