Today, I placed silver
thimbles on each finger.
I licked your whetstone,
finding the finest edge
my tongue has ever known.
I let barnacles seal themselves
to the ship of my body,
shielding the curves of my flesh.
Grabbed knapsack and satchel
stuffed with rusty spoons and razor
blades, donned cobblestones for shoes—
so to face you.
Thus protected,
I made my mouth a spigot,
spoke my worst true words.
You may call this armor foolish,
but I am in your way;
eyes wide as grommets,
hands hard as trowels,
mouth open and open and open.
