lose every last bit of my innocence

The wayfarer
Perceiving the pathway to truth,
Was struck with astonishment.
It was thickly grown with weeds.
“Ha,” he said,
“I see that none has passed here
In a long time.”
Later he saw that each weed
Was a singular knife.
“Well,” he mumbled at last,
“Doubtless there are other roads.”
—Crane

“Know you, I want to know you.” Pleading.
“What does that mean? Know me?” I ask him. “Know me? No one ever knows anyone. Ever. You will never know me.”
—Ellis