Reach your hand, your tongue, your stomach,

Into the expanse in front of you, 

And pretend the air is palpable. 

Wander the discursive road that is

Your veins, inculcate the feeling of your teeth 

Into the hollows of your cheeks.

You are a denizen of the body that

Encloses your gauche soul, your diaphragm

Is the string that controls the weak

Muscles of your mind, and your lungs

Foist the rest of the world as they

Steal its precious air.

Your tongue commits heresy every time

It moves, its sharp language censurable

By gods and demons.

The skin on your fingertips melts away,

And the florid jewels that once adorned

Your neck now sear holes in your flesh.

Saliva that stings your throat when you swallow

Has become pernicious as it slowly burns away

At your insides. Scream all you want, but

Your cries for help are the only thing that will

Not escape your specious lips.

You are not the skin that encloses you.