Salt
Walking toward you is slower every time.
It’s obvious—
like another calf born
in winter, a shredded butterfly
in winter, a shredded butterfly
as evidence of changing hands.
Childhoods spoken
underwater, how they’ve made us
underwater, how they’ve made us
depend on box fans to whir
themselves silent. Punchlines reverse
themselves silent. Punchlines reverse
at my expense, harming me
back into separation.
back into separation.
It’s how we can keep this going.
Once, I wanted you around
my waist so we could dance.
my waist so we could dance.
Now I call my friends, afraid
my stories will be overwritten in order
to bail you out. The first time
to bail you out. The first time
I boiled water for you, I was so careful.
I poured in enough salt
to burn a hole through your cheek.
to burn a hole through your cheek.
