Curl

Published: July 3, 2023

Hands curled around the finger

Eyes too new to see

Learning to embrace the body

Also embracing thee.

Touch, smell, imperfections,

All is acceptable here

Even when you hop out of

A rusty husk-trailer,

Or rotten tomato waste-disposal mound

They send

The silent criminals to.

Do you hold the baby in arms

Or does he hold you, dear?

Keep him near

At all costs

When he stabs you in the rear

Crawls into your room while you sleep and pops out the third eye

When the toothpaste is still swimming in your red wine.

Keep him near.

Just keep him near.