hushed tones,
uncomfortable words shared
in secret, I don’t want
to hear about it any longer
make it go away
these unwelcome overtures
bringing nothing but
discomfort instead of joy,
the hours pass by
the whispering continues
There is
a shard
of hurt
refusing to go
away
when I move
left
it twists
me tight
there is
a splinter
in my reason
I can hardly
ignore
summoning
my every
attention.
It’s quiet. It smiles
two front teeth or
better to keep it a molar —
a cavity — there
picking through rotting
food closed in a cabinet
squeamish but still hungry.