tongue twisting up my sleeves
on cold peach blushing skin you whispered, “sacrifice”
toe to toe
organic matter to organic matter
i try hard to be witty but the words just stumble out
got no poetic tongue, this is as literal as it gets
spat and spewed
my bruised body turned seaside
they knew me by the marks on my shoulder
the mold between my eyelashes
the mildew on my lips
i came out coiled, taut like a flame
skin charred, midnight wedged between my fingers
“where have you been?”
she whispered, voice like iron
i raised my broad stomach and slammed down
head against the pavement
head against the stone
i’m bleeding
i’m bleeding
*******