staggering

blood hardened inside me.

here it is-- a clump, staggering

to the depths of toilet bowl.

almost went in after it, to know

how it clings to flesh between fingers,

slides off palms, but let it disappear.

enough.  this is what my body gives.

you can hear the sadness and wanting

in my voice but i am not afraid

or embarrassed.  this is how i came into the world.

a bloody mass.  so listen!

some songs just come out this way,

lapping at your heels and disposing of their own mess.

feed my body so much good food but

not exactly what it wants.  you cannot

hold anything in rubber between flesh

forever.  and when i let it all go, each drop

doesn't matter-- slithers and staggers

and stops, somewhere beyond my vision.