Fish Hook Teeth
Vyolet Ashley


With our fish hook teeth
and bloody knuckles
We descend.

I don’t want to hold your hand
but there are monsters worse than you here
And maybe I’m just a bit scared.
When I finally give in you are all too welcoming
I say it won’t hurt if it’s only for a little while. 

You are filled with nooks and crawl spaces
Each more surprising than the one before
“Don’t look for mine,” I say
“They’re deep and dark and decomposed.”
You’ve found them all by the end of the month.  

My home is not with you
in the dark
Hawks and stags don’t cohabitate
So neither do we
But, you say we could make lives together
and sometimes I believe you.  

With our fish hook teeth
we bite through knuckles
and wash them off in the sink
with an apology
We are mistrusted and misconstrued
All we can do now
Is descend.  
 
 
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