13.
My knees bend backwards,
serenade him:
The first man I let inside
did not use his fists, but my mouth
took his lashes anyway.
It was oh, so sweet with my knees
at his feet when I thought
that it made me mean anything.
14.
I didn’t like the taste of your mouth
but I kissed you for a few hours.
I sucked the life out of you.
In the golden morning after
I walked twenty blocks before
I got on the subway, beaming.
15.
my toes curl,
tell him:
“the first man I kissed poured me
his emptiness, tasted
like rubber & vodka & oranges.
he took all of my dreams, turned me in-
-to something; like it’s magic
I pretend that it’s wonderful”