Borrowing some words today

Not that one

By Meena Kandasamy

Find me another word

that is not so ready. I want

a word that waits and weeps

and hesitates, that knows

of other words I kill, and

grows afraid to take its place.

Find me a word that has heard

of a woman afraid of losing a man

she does not have, find me a word

that flinches at the thought of being

trapped, a word that shows me

stealing time, not men.

Find me a word that is not safe.

A word for a woman in a forest

to wake up with, a woman who

knows heat and long silences

and sleepless nights, a woman

who works with only words.

Not love, dear poet.

Find me another word.