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 bone

eap