NOTES FOR A THEORY ON DESIRE Poem by Danez Smith

I say I want what I have no language for

but really mean I want desire

without the body, without the I or anyone else



I'm convinced we only have teeth because we hunger

only hunger because to be alive means to need



Everything desires

Light for a surface to make it light at all

the virus for the cell, the flame for more



Name a thing alive that does not thirst

I want to praise it



Bring me any beast, I'll open his mouth

& march right in. I'm not scared of his teeth

his poison, his fire, or even his belly



I'm going to look at what I can't imagine

to see what inside him says eat