a few words for her

Edie almost always makes the same mistakes.

She strikes twice in the same place-

she measures with a warped scale-

she narrows her eyes to make things look smaller and then is …

surprised to find them gone.

Edie nearly cries but not yet-

When she flushes bile and bone-

When she casts the first stone-

When the table’s smeared spotless and wet.

Edie sheds milk and brittle lashes she-

doesnt mind the wet eyes

Doesnt care doesnt cry

she bends it backwards and makes it smooth.

I know how to take the blame-

when it’s been painted with sweat stained veneer-

the calloused fingernails clear

Deficiencies of the mind.

Because gentle words ring and die

The bullet proof iris -  the dark toasted rye

Never wide enough the first bite-

The starving stretch of patient night.

Will you taste it or will you fear it?

Said the body to the spirit.