"If love were a predator," by McKenzie Hager

If love were a predator,I’d let it hunt me down.While it prowled,I’d shuffle the leavesjust enough to be heard.I’d welcome the weightof its body against mine.And when it struck,I’d go down smiling—Let it take me.Let it tear me open.Let me blissfully bleed my life awayas its mouth claimed the tender fleshof my thigha mark not of death,but devotion.Because life without loveis just survivalanyway.-M.L.More from McKenzie Hager ↓@lavendermorbs on InstagramHer book, Ink, Grace, and F-Bombs, is out now.Listen to me read another poem by McKenzie on Instagram @rembrandts.cureMentioned in this episode:Write After with One Poem OnlyWrite After is a way to encourage poets to listen and write, and use National Poetry Month to highlight how listening to poetry makes us better poets. I know I write the best when I’m surrounded by beautiful poetry–it’s part of the reason I created this podcast, and I want to encourage others to share this practice. If you want to join: Listen to a poem from the month of April on One Poem Only, then write your own in response. I will pick one for each day to read in June for a special series: One Poem After 🍎🍏 Submissions close May 15.Write After Submissions Form