Did I ever tell you of that memory, seeing “F” beside my name and thinking it stood for Friday. Thinking: this must have been the day I was born. To be defined by a day of the week, rather than smudged genitalia. Wouldn’t that have been something.
* * * *
(conversation between two)
I thought about labeling myself as a couch. Slipping that into my gender marker.
Why?
Well, I’ve been sat on. My springs are loose. I’ve had overnight guests drape themselves all over me. Notice all these stains. Crumbs of lost meals.
I guess that sounds like you.
Right? I had a partner call me wishbone once. Maybe I’ll just refer to myself as bone scraps.
* * * *
Today could be referred to as some sort of anniversary:
The day I ripped open my mom’s body.
Or the moment I breathed in the fumes of new jersey for the very first time.
& an accumulation of stretch marks and toiletries.
Or reminder of all the friends I’ve lost track of.
Just another reason to eat cake.
* * * *
An ode to me:
Everyday, before coffee & kiss-climb limbs against my other, I inventory my parts to make sure they still remain: all my teeth, or the ones which matter gather up bouquet of knots left behind on pillow case feel around for leftover meals clinging to my cheek swallow all the yesterdays that have a difficult time being left today, i try not to batter my hips with too much judgmental too much writer's block too much emphasis on the black hole of bank account today, i eat cake because i am supposed to because i want to because i can call myself a couch or a loaf of bread or i can call myself door number three and even if no one else notices, i see the evolution of breaths on my soul
Aimee Herman 