pull off every scale
put each on your tongue
let it dissolve with
the hate on
your lips.

once when I was
less than your fingers
a snake got closer
than your hands.
my mother raised a stick
higher than your chest
and I looked away until
the snake's eyes didn't
look like yours anymore.

twist every rib
around your spineless finger
let it come undone with
the whispers on
your tongue.

I'll look away until
I don't know
your eyes
anymore.