Member Poem

I have an intestinal tract the length of a football field
capable of digesting 10 year old gum, burnt out light bulbs, and the tines of forks
but soft unspoken declarations and insults bring out Ornate moths to pad the inside of my stomach
palming at acids they drink up bad feelings and spit up soothing sticky ether

Genetic maladies plague my growing bones and tendons but by far the most painful ache
is in my stomach, a constant dull harrowing boat ride down the Amazon river
shifting tides guided by anacondas and cawing birds belching in trees
and the muddy voice of judging panthers that call out beneath the water, "you did this to yourself"

originally published on cowbird.com