Behold, you are beautiful, my love
behold, you are beautiful!
your eyes are glazed with sleep deprivation
behind your veil
—
Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead
if the goats have not seen the business end of a bottle of Pantene in four days
—
Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes
that you’ve been meaning to use Whitestrips on since Christmas when you asked for them in your stocking and then bought them for your own stocking
but the flock of shorn ewes
has all born twins
meaning my darling that you still have all your teeth
—
Your lips are like scarlet thread
your mouth is lovely
even when you’re crying because somebody pooped on the front porch
—
Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil
or maybe like two halves of an orange
oranges also have largish pores and plenty of natural moisture
—
The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon
More specifically the Aldi in Lebanon
More specifically the frozen pizza from the Aldi in Lebanon
—
Your lips drip nectar, my bride;
honey and milk are under your tongue
also the remnants of those few leftover raisins that they didn’t want that you weren’t going to waste
—
Your neck is like the tower of David
built in rows of stone and swift hormonal change
—
Your two breasts are like two baby possums
hanging upside down and for dear life but still somehow cheerful
—
You are altogether beautiful my love;
there is no flaw in you.