La Collectionneuse

I collect people
like I collect books

sorted, stacked
by genre
alphabetized
by author

pretty ones
old and wise ones
warm and worn ones
broken ones

but souls are slippery
and love
how bloody her stings

wandering
away from the shelves
from my arms

discombobulate
reprobate
disconcerned consulate

why won't you let me keep you?
sort you
stamp you
shelve you
love you?