Tonight I had
     such a dream
that here I am,
scribbling at three in the morning,
     hand trembling,
your name still quivering
     in the dark corners of my room.

     Because in the roar
of this dream I had,
     I discovered:
I would kill
for you. Face thirteen blank-paper faces
for you. Tear at raging claws of fire.

For you,
     I woke
wanting to cover you
     with the smoothness
of my own skin
     so nothing could reach you.

I wanted to let you
     crawl up
          into the softness of my womb to hide,
     nestling like a bird,
my shivering heartbeat
in your hand.

     -Diana Guillermo 5-99