Hunted

Hunted

“Language is a skin. I rub my language against the other.”

-R. Barthes

for Kristin Sanders

                        (& for her students who say they don’t mind the trade)

gradually, till it sloughs off

any coat discarded, torn off husky voice

I was a hub for whispers, gossip mongrels

suck & I gave sip, tutelage where I trained

drawn all over cheeks while sleeping

oh, you confused little ninny

his “other” fills every open line

rockaway rockabye’s

how you sanded my levees

how picture my picture

let’s pretend it’s not the end

of times, part sea: my boat bulky

copied graffiti like a code

for generations stalled

wisdom under the toilet

paper roll: girls just want to have

see how the lids pop open

when she’s upright

I precipitated/ not participated

margined, absolutely

this day is traceable

what couldn’t be tumbled

breath on the frame: would he

notice my invisibility

if I cloaked or by the way, I buy

the double vision wedded

bound tyranny & desire

about to make _____________

speak

Megan Burns

11.6.12