How gently you tear me apart, my love!
How your fingers caress my crevasses
Grip me tightly by my inwardness,
And gently pushing and pulling, open my bones
Steam open my long-cemented scars,
Unstitch my seams, undo me.

How you hold my tendered face as the masks come off
Whisper me through the pain
Your words a river of cool water
Your breath like earth after rain.

How gently you open me, my love
Like irises open to the sun.