Modern Aesthetics: Athena

“you are ten percent horror - don’t worry,

don’t worry, i’ve seen it.
you want to tear things apart,
watch them bleed and put them
back together again.

twenty percent of you craves that pain,
that sharpness that only you and your blade
can bring. you’ve pushed it down.
i know it’s hard. it’s okay. breathe for me.

twenty five percent of you is courage.
you don’t think you’re strong?
i’ve seen you take in that one more
breath when you’re sure it would be easier
just to stop. you can do this. i trust you.

fifteen percent is love, and you’ve
told me you love me, but i need to
hear it a few dozen times before
it starts to sink in. i love you,
honey, i’ve watched you
struggle and i’ve watched you
grow and i know you could
drown me, devour me with that
love.

thirty percent is holy.
you claim you can’t see your
divinity, can’t feel it, but god,
i feel it every time i touch you.
you were made to be worshiped, darling,
and i’m happy to take up that task.” (x)