“Verlaine Shoots His Lover, 10 July 1873”

I may kill you this time,

that way I can end our madness

myself. Us both living

leaves me a slave.

I was glad when you told me

to buy a gun. I thought

we could both go like that.

I’ve held you in praying hands, now

I want to be buried under you.

I say, “you needed to bleed a little.”

I’m always saying

what you already know.