with intention, scrub
and expose the parts that
tell you normal is
only feeling love sometimes
or that if love is too good
it’s going to threaten you
until you keep your distance
with intention, scrub
and expose the parts that
make you want just a part
from a lot of whole women
who patiently thumb at
your tender band at
the maximum of just enough
with intention, scrub
and expose the parts that
connect and let in light
so you can sterilize
the decay, your negative space
inside that eats up your joy
so that you can’t savor it
with intention, touch
and take the residue left and
from the points of your ribs
and to your fingertips,
throw it forward
and away
June 2019