she sits at the head of the kitchen table
she knows that she will leave
she tells her body to get ready
to do as she says
and he comes in
forces his open face on her lips
unswallowed coffee in her mouth
*
she can’t sleep
she hears him touch himself
talk to strangers on the phone
she is unaccompanied
he invites them in
I hear him finish
*
I watch him touch himself
because he pretends to be alone
who would ever speak against him
this is his house
he does as he pleases
with his hand under his pants
watching television
eating ice cream
*
you didn’t shed skins
you skinned yourself
to remain unrecognisable
Croque-Melpomene 