you try to stroke the bowl of my belly, it's not romantic & sends the sea swimming my muddy eyes a flood. your mouth sounds out words; they ask how i'm feeling, but i don't tell you what i didn't eat for breakfast this morning or the triple digit number of calories shoved down my throat yesterday. i don't mention the measuring tape noosed about my waist, just to keep those twenty-two inches slender. how could i explain how sometimes i gently imagine wild animals tearing off my flesh them teeth scalpel sharp until me a pile of glittering bones. until i am perfect. you desert mirage. you so so very sweet leaf tea dancing on my tongue & these days, i miss you like summer when you drive to the movies. wanna wrap my narrow ankles round & round your blue black throat & sink my teeth deep in your lower lip.