elisabeth lisps just a little
when she gets upset
and today her tongue is slipping about
like it's never been stable once
she's covered her little body
in tiny little lines--
consider her self-perforated.
and she's holding the scissors awkwardly
they tremble in her hand
(she's using the wrong one, you see)
a narrow finger scans neat-inked columns
lined across papers set before her
while she muses out loud to no-one and me:
"i leave you my toes
because you've always danced on them
and i always forgave you for it."
i hear the blades snip
and her pen scratch out a name
"i leave you my soles
because you don't believe you have one;
now you can have two."
snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.
"i leave you my legs
because they never took me far enough.
but i hope they treat you better."
snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.
"i leave you my knees
because they're battered as your smile
and i think you'll make a lovely couple."
snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.
"i leave you my hips
because of all the times you laid between them
and the comfort they never gave you."
snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.
"i leave you my waist
because it was always just perfect
for your arms to wrap around."
snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.
"i leave you my stomach
because of the hunger you instilled
with your nomadic love."
snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.
"i leave you my chest
because of the sighs i daily strangled
to spare you more agony."
snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.
"i leave you my lungs
because they were often swollen
with all the songs you inspired."
snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.
"i leave you my heart
because it isn't doing me any good
and you always seemed so fond of it."
snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.
"i leave you my arms
because they could once hold you;
now you can hold them instead."
snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.
"i leave you my hands
because of the fists i never had to make
and the warmth i never forgot."
snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.
"i leave you my neck
because i never stuck it out once for anyone
and it's in desperate need of use."
snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.
" i leave you my chin
because it's the best place to take a punch
and you've got some coming."
snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.
"i leave you my eyes
because i always thought them clear
and only recently noticed i was blind."
snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.
"i leave you my lips
because they are the softest part of me
and i remember how you taste."
snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.
(and here her mouth grows sharp,
her words are hard and defined:)
"i leave you my tongue
because it falters
like you never let me."
snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.
Copyright 2005 doll on the rag
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Printed from www.DarkPoetry.com/dp/9853/70520 on Tuesday October 07th, 2008 04:05 AM
Certain elements © 1996-2008 Matthew Steven (matts.org)
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