animus

fission me and

this disowned half would show you:

salmon glide downstream

.

that every river yields

at one easy bend

go slow

.

wade knee-deep and

mid-thigh in, each splaying

fingers to the current

.

letting the slick of secret shame

slip from our palms

surrender pupils to the sun

.

surrender my bare skin

tick every wild hour off

with my indigo pen

.

with your midas tongue

every fish and stone and inch of me

golden

.

I swear to God

.

to burn in the crucible of you

to feast on each second

as I cleave myself in two