waking up in kansas

somewhere
within the geography of
   my being

a tornado has touched
   down
destroying the flimsy
   barriers that
divide the masculine
   from the
feminine
   the human from the
animal
   my body from your
body.

it is sucking the breath
   from my
lungs
   the sight from my
eyes

   my muscles are
expanding
   my blood is
scalding
   my heart is
tearing apart the
   silence.

if you touch me
   now
   we may burn
alive
   we may burn
forever.

what will you do
   with your
   cool hands?