elisabeth lisps just a little
when she gets upset
and today her tongue is slipping about
like it's never been stable once

she's covered her little body
in tiny little lines--
consider her self-perforated.

and she's holding the scissors awkwardly
they tremble in her hand
(she's using the wrong one, you see)

a narrow finger scans neat-inked columns
lined across papers set before her
while she muses out loud to no-one and me:


"i leave you my toes
because you've always danced on them
and i always forgave you for it."


i hear the blades snip
and her pen scratch out a name


"i leave you my soles
because you don't believe you have one;
now you can have two."


snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.


"i leave you my legs
because they never took me far enough.
but i hope they treat you better."


snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.


"i leave you my knees
because they're battered as your smile
and i think you'll make a lovely couple."


snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.


"i leave you my hips
because of all the times you laid between them
and the comfort they never gave you."


snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.


"i leave you my waist
because it was always just perfect
for your arms to wrap around."


snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.


"i leave you my stomach
because of the hunger you instilled
with your nomadic love."


snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.


"i leave you my chest
because of the sighs i daily strangled
to spare you more agony."


snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.


"i leave you my lungs
because they were often swollen
with all the songs you inspired."


snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.


"i leave you my heart
because it isn't doing me any good
and you always seemed so fond of it."


snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.


"i leave you my arms
because they could once hold you;
now you can hold them instead."


snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.


"i leave you my hands
because of the fists i never had to make
and the warmth i never forgot."


snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.


"i leave you my neck
because i never stuck it out once for anyone
and it's in desperate need of use."


snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.


" i leave you my chin
because it's the best place to take a punch
and you've got some coming."


snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.


"i leave you my eyes
because i always thought them clear
and only recently noticed i was blind."


snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.


"i leave you my lips
because they are the softest part of me
and i remember how you taste."


snipsnip.
s c r a t c h.




(and here her mouth grows sharp,
her words are hard and defined:)



"i leave you my tongue
because it falters
like you never let me."





snipsnip.



s c r a t c h.