idkids-3

There are tributaries between our fingers
braided rivers behind our chests. We agree
to let fish rent shadows in exchange for
rainbow scales. Each night, we play
games by hand and mouth. Scream if you win
but it’s a sin to make a sound if you don’t.

We learn to dance with fins inside
spin our arms
when they thrash
our spines.
Such splendid exhibitions
We are the anti-
catatonics.

Let it sting the
quick exchange
for lifted faces
for reflective skin
for ponds just learning
to ingest.

We never grimaced. Never let
scales show. We were—we are—we are the anti-
the anti-stalled. Kept dancing. Kept singing. Kept
playing. Keep playing. Keep needing. Keep feeding
the fins in acid wakes. When they pucker give. &
when they don’t

let our own lips be the skin we miss