Ten.
I was performing for my bruises,
my tongue was dumb on rosemary and gin.
a muscle trained into submission.
"Don't say that, Jennifer."
"Mind your manners, Jennifer"
"Watch your mouth, Jennifer."
crucified into the valley of my jaw
pulsing,
pounding,
pleading,
"Don't say that, Jennifer. Mind your manners, Jennifer. Watch your mouth, Jennifer."
Drunk on sunlight and heartache,
I said something.
My manners un-minded.
Mouth un-watched.
Dumb tongue strong.
Dumb tongue wrong, wrong.
wrong.
- - -
Two weeks, I preformed a threnody of bruises.
My tongue silked regret, all pink and homeless.
Pushing against my teeth,
petitioning,
panhandling,
"Take us back. Take us back. Take us back"