aphrodite

- vrinda kohli

And maybe, just maybe

I could love you better

if your hands didn't paint

roses on my cheeks
with every touch.

But red, they say
is the color of love:
so Aphrodite wears a crimson dress
while you make of your lover,
a masterpiece.

But Gherardini isn't so red, my dear,
and paper pale skin won't hold
these browns and purples

for much longer.

So maybe, just maybe
I could love you better
if you didn't love me
one fist at a time.