love
is not a harpsichord concert
in a genteel drawing room
it isn't social security
the lottery
or roller disco

i think of the lunar card
in the tarot deck
some strange huge crustacean
its armour glistening and
its pincers wiggling
clatters out of a pool
while wild dogs howl at the moon

underneath the hearts and flowers
love is loony like that

attempts to housebreak it
to dress the crabs up like doves
and sing soprano
always result in thin blood
you end up with a parody