Possession Poem Quotes

“I. Oranges

There was one orange on the tree
And you walked by.
How could you know that
Death lived inside,
Sleeping in membranes.
How could you know
He would unfold,
Wearing pointed slippers,
Velvet doubet,
And a gold cod-piece
The moment you opened the orange.
How could you have known
He would step out and kill you?

Remember the orange
Shining on the tree
Alone-
And remember not to touch
If there is only one

My hand holds the orange.
Your hand holds mine.
Remember, we hold death
In our hands and
It is because we hold
What is not our own
That death is inside
And we hold him.”
― Diana Wakoski