summer heat clenches her shame,
sunlight aches her whole body,
she has it in her pocket.
sweat runs like an itch for her name,
it shakes her awake to the same shame.
planted health helps her
bask in the heat, melting.
day skies weep to keep
her head sick and quick.
butterflies live in her stomach,
minding her forced life.
butterflies live in her stomach,
eating her alive.
she hopes this is the last time.
she wants to breathe in sea-salt,
waiting for water to waste her,
weighs her down as she walks.
but she makes it chlorine's fault,
maybe she'll sleep faster in this salt.
drenched air stains her pale
as she steps down, choking.
chemical waves splash
on the stale sidewalk.
butterflies live in her stomach,
minding her forced life.
butterflies live in her stomach,
eating her alive.
she hopes this is the last time.
she takes rocks from her sockets,
a smile burns out her face,
her formed lips talk as she cracks up.
she masters gravity skin-deep,
count her eyes as she goes to sleep.
butterflies live in her stomach,
eating her mind alive.
butterflies live in her stomach,
eating her alive,
this is the last time.
