denying romanticism

how could we/I
have accepted that
love for
connection with,
Earth
is just

a romantic notion.
not ‘real’?
 [was it the sunsets that did it?]
in doing so,  
what violence
raped
my body.
my voice. 

that voice returning
through/in/by way of song. 

          

(if I am your
            canary in the coal mine,
            I do not want to
                        stop singing)