Strawberries

I get up

in the morning 

and eat all the strawberries 

before you are awake

before you have showered 

or brushed your hair

like Penelope 

in front of her suitors

they are gone

and my lips are already 

red with their memory 

ask anyone 

who knows me deeply

and they will explain

that I always fight wars

of attrition 

that I am sure to win

and devouring 

all of the fruit

is one of the ways

that I teach you 

not to take me

for granted.