It is getting close

Too close to February
A month that wants to knock the hell out of me
See my face swell up, my jaw rearranged
I will be able to view the world with my one eye

The contusions will circle a secret color wheel
Reserved for those who meet with collision

1 Red
2 Strange magenta
3 Purple
4 Black
5 Sickly yellow
6 Invisible spider web

A face that is better hidden

That
Silences men
And caused odd delight in some women
Who can’t help but whisper to each other

“She had it coming”

They hope I will scar

I am laughing at them

If only they could see how I have crawled, trying to reach the sea breeze
From the iron bed
To the veranda
Like a dog

I can even bark when fucked don’t they know this

Then magically the following morning with a baby on my back

1 Set afternoon tea
2 Take a cutlass to the yard
3 Tote water
4 Smile when told
5 Rely on lucky charms
6 Play pretend

Years later faint scars will be visible under direct sunlight
One eye extraordinarily skewed
A permanent hematoma for life

It is my beautiful red jewel
Outlandish intimate bond
Secret vow

Catalyst to my new lover:
Papaver somniferum

lunar moth
goodnight
black
black
black