i find you thieving me
in small pieces
but better this
& still in separate skins
we did not swim
unthinking into wholeness–
we could be anglerfish
grown together, you fused into me
like a scar not cut but acquired
we could share
one bloodstream
call it passion
& not dependence
but let’s not lie
freedom from something
this deep
means your murder
& my wounding
***Something I read this week prompted me to do some reading on deep sea anglerfish. During mating, the much smaller male fuses to the female’s body, and becomes part of her; eventually reduced to a pair of testicles. Ugh. That is not a level of intimacy I would actively seek.
Susan Daniels Poetry 
And the two shall become one! Hmmmm! Deadlier than the male!
I cannot get that song out of my head, Noel…..
“You’re a strange animal… ”
humming away over here under my breath. 🙂
Had to listen to it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAxlmdTJ7S8
I thought this incredibly well thought out and written. Excellent writing–though I don’t think you need to explain about the reality—that aside it doesn’t take away from the pleasure I had reading it several times.>KB
KB, thanks so much… Glad you liked. I found this story of all-consuming (literally) reproduction so fascinating, I had to share it…
read at first, not knowing the inspiration, and was fascinated with this take on intimacy. I agree, it is a little- um… boundary-lacking and I would not actively seek it out; but I do find the image quite beautiful.
Thanks, Jane–I am in your camp. There is intimacy and then there is that threatened complete loss of self, literally, in the case of these fish. I think we all need more autonomy than this….
oh my…this is def. not the becoming one i would want to have…think it’s important that both stay independent personalities beside the being one…which has its challenges i admit..ha…but makes love and life also interesting…a fine write susan
Yes, Claudia–I err more on the side of clashing egos/strong personalities, but I just could not resist the scary beauty of what happens with these fish…
It’s tough becoming one I should say !!!
Eeks–yes, and no thank you!
Sounds like the work of nightmare, sheesh.
Doesn’t it? And here I am, all happy, jumping up and down because my old fear of intimacy is here for once vindicated 😉
I have filled my pants with angel fish in expectation of massively impressive testicles any day soon… Here’s hoping 🙂
Hahaha–sorry, dude, take those back to the pet store. You need Anglefish, the deep sea sort, and if you put any big females in there along with the males, mind your jewels don’t get chomped 😉
…you have reached Stupid’s phone. Sorry but he can’t take your call at the moment as he’s in the casualty department having his (description censored for distressing material)!
LOL, OK, but looks like we were both wrong, as I need to fix this to read “anglerfish” to avoid such confusion!
I have colourful aquatic life in my scrotum and you think spellings the primary concern here!
LOLLOLLOL! OK, now that I am done laughing my ass off, let me offer you some sympathy…
I believe the response here is–I DON’T CARE HOW YOU SPELL IT, GET IT OFF!!!!!!!
😯 Yes!! 😯
Whoops–looks like I need to put an “r” in there… It is anglerfish I mean here…
dang…there is a subtle and building intensity in this that makes your closure just stunning…the immeshment into each other, i think we can lose much of ourselves….and then in losing the other i wonder what do we have left?
I do not know–all I can tell you is there is intimacy, and then there is engulfment… I am feeling a bit claustrophobic right now 😉
I don’t think even marriage should go that far! A very clever poem. Creepy, but well written.
Thanks, Viv, and I agree. I think this calls for a bumper sticker type phrasing–there is intimacy, and there is being consumed. I’ll stick to garden-variety intimacy, thanks very much 😉
Spare me that kind of relationship. A very vivid write. I would bet there are some human relationships that have similarity as well. Sigh. Thoughtfully written.
I agree, and hope there are not too many human relationships like that.
so there are “femme fatale” in the sea kingdom too! Mating habits of animals and insects are sometimes much more “interesting” than human sexuality. I really liked this one!
Thanks, Joe–me too!
By the me too, I mean I find this stuff fascinating 😉
Okay, once I get beyond the testicals image:) I like this, the importance of individuality and the kool way ideas come to us.
Henry, thanks! Yes, that was a bit rough, that image…
I had a guest post on my blog on the anglerfish–it’s a powerful metaphor, and too often a true one. You use it superbly here.
Oh, thanks so much! I was strongly drawn to this dynamic, though I would never, ever want to experience a relationship like this myself 😉
Maintaining self can be a test of will and test of a relationship. I think it is important (but then again, I am still single :p) Wonderful work.
Yes, Beth, and I agree–relationships works best when there are two involved in them; not one engulfing the other, either literally or metaphorically.
This is awesome and your note made me laugh – I had to read about sexual cannibalism in insects eariler in the week for one of my poems and just had to stop.
🙂 know what you mean, Anna!
This is the second time this week that I have crossed my legs ewwwwwwww but funny
LOL, Bruce, I know what you mean! Did you read ROS’ comments above? Still snickering…
I guess with the evolution of consciousness, we humans have a chance to give give unselfish love to a mate, but also the tools to pretend we are more than an anglerfish. All that topped with self-deception and bang! We get poetry. 🙂
Fun poem — loved the angler metaphor.
Sabio–I so love your thoughts here…biology plus autonomy plus self-deception equals poetry. Wow. Quite true!
Hmm, an interesting piece. I like the undertone of violence, of a devouring taking place, in the name of mating, of passion perhaps. All unions leave marks and scars, and some take everything you got.
Yes, Gene, and in the case of these fish, quite literally. Some take everything you’ve got is right… Though I personally prefer more of a partner than a devourer. Then again, I am no angler 😉
explicitly well expressed! Well understood ~I love your writing and genuineness in everything you write for the soul! Big hug~Debbie
oh, thank you, Deb!
a powerful metaphor…I enjoyed this, Susan.
Oh, thank you, Ayala.
Scary fact! gripping image in your poem, greatly enjoyed it, thanks.
Oh, thank you!
Wow. Should one seek freedom from something this deep? I love this line “like a scar not cut but acquired.”
Thank you, Jessica.