Your words are drilled into my bones
Unwrap my skin
To find capitalized syllables molding my marrow
I try to sand down at least my ribs
In hopes to remove you from all that protects my heart
But they are imbedded at a permanent level
Your teeth swim around in my stomach
Chattering up
Climbing up up up
Into the middle of my throat
And your tongue slipped from my clenched fists
years ago
Slithering down my stairs to lick up the tears
I form every time
I close my lids
And see your high cheekbones
They are thieves in the night
Ripping apart childhood images
My raggedy anne doll
grass stains on the knees of my white tights
and tea parties with empty cups
Your voice echoes in all of them
Calling me by my full name
Telling me to brush my teeth after dinner
I still cup my hands under the faucet like you do
And I still look at the water spilling
Wishing I was with it slipping down the drain
Away from you