KM Bezner

the little things

between the pencil sharpeners missing blades
and that safety pin in your pocket

all the small sharp things pointed inwards
target your belly
and if i snap my fingers they might shoot straight–
and bury themselves in you.

the snap on your wrist brings you back,
but the edge is always closer than you think and surprises you every time

and one day soon that deep-down dark
will find you again and then
it will swallow you whole.

but you know this.
you know it and you know it 
until i know it too.

i can't protect the world from you and
i won't stand between you and
those little things that give you away.

–you're sweating
but those sleeves only cover the seams
where you won't let me touch you

KM Bezner (she/they) is a former bookseller / current librarian in Rhode Island. Her work has been published or is forthcoming from HASH Journal, Hot Pot Magazine, Ouch! Collective, and others. When they're not writing poetry they're probably making zines, reading comics, or playing Dungeons & Dragons. They can be found most places @kmbezner.