He says I am gumpopper,
wondrous shoulders,
evil on the days when I bleed.
I say take hold of both my hands.
He speaks cool water on me,
nudges my mood with a proverb.
I watch him undress, skin
unto another skin, and I turn
away to keep from craving that.
By the time his hands
touch my shoulders,
I am almost insane
with disappearing,
and the thunder.