Perigee

spent of fuel, they detach and fall away
—Brian Ross, “Perigee”

your hurt is a story

you tell without opening

your mouth.
look at yourself
how you tell it

so often too much to anyone,

how your neck
blooms open &
your shoulders

weep in any kind of place—

a night city sidewalk.
a train. a warm-
lit bedroom full
with your own name.

when your assailants, in bits,

are lodged
in your bones
& teeth & you chew
on them daily

the one you want

to love can know
how to escape you
by entering
your mouth.

how can anyone fall

for a face
telling secrets
no one wishes
to know?

& strangers

smirking
at your wrists
letting go
in pools

grumbling
at how you
breathe, over &
over again

i don’t know how to be kept

you spill. &
you tell this story
so often

you open
your mouth
without ever
being asked