
hairline fracture
the ribs are a fragile cage
for her heart’s urgings
your boney skullcap
hot brain
firing nerves
eyes, brow, hands
tongue, lashings of teeth-
scarred knuckle, muscle
control, those abs
pects, the six-pack
punches
through bruised organs
she hears their music
in her ears and heart’s distal
pulse, your ancient cadence
fists
face
feinting
bloodlines traced
back to the cave
beneath fractured ridges
into the boneeap