| Aimee Nezhukumatathil |
Why I Crave Ribs Tonight
|
Baby, don’t even come near me with that napkin. Just let me at each bone, slick & sweet with smoky sugar sauce. See all the steam when I nudge all the meat off with my tongue? (The only kind of cloud we see this lemonade day in June). All this driving & I need to feel food in my hands no knife or fork tonight. I want to burn my lips just enough, but not too much it hurts to kiss. |
& that reminds me of the glowing heart inside me. How each rib curves around, locks tight in neat snaps along the back—make your hand like that around my small wrist & lead me to the bathroom. Stand with me in the shower feel the tender spot just underneath my ribs, lift my hands above my head & trace the space- bone-space-bone- space-bone down my sides with a blue bar of soap—let this be the only way I’ll ever come clean. |
Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Why I Crave Ribs Tonight was originally published in Crab Orchard Review (Summer 2003).
Poem, copyright © 2003 by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Appearing on From the Fishouse with permission
Audio file, copyright © 2004, From the Fishouse
Posted on February 21, 2005 7:01 AM