as a sunbather loves the sun-

enjoy the moment, soak it up, feet up

but know when it’s time to go

inside, or dive into the water

if it gets to be too much

but my heart is a red, burning thing

that wants all or nothing. wants

to be redder, hotter, or to be

frozen solid. there is no

sitting in between

patches of shade-

either I stay inside all day

and watch life through the window,

or I lay out and let love poison me-

feel the names of past loves peel

from the surface of my blistering heart

as I stare at my person

as though he

or she

is the sun.

and once again,

I let love blind me

again, and again and again.

Find more from the poet on IG- @lizarosepoetry