Friday, June 28, 2024

Rubbing it raw July 2012

 


I rub the clam shell

 with both my thumbs,

 and think of you,

wearing myself raw,

leaving bits of flesh behind

for you to remember me by,

a jealous child,

 hurting all over

 except where the skin rubs raw.

I rub the clam shell

 with both thumbs

to cure the ache

 that goes deep down into my bones.

The more I rub, the worse it gets,

 I need to rub all of me

 against all of you,

leave me smeared over all of you,

to relieve the pain.

The clam shell’s pattern

imprinted on me, inside of me,

 just as you are

 thumbs feeling the rough surface,

 rubbing it smooth,

though it is my flesh that wears out first,

 until I have no more flesh to give,

still, I keep rubbing.


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