I knew a man like you once

with a wide smile 

and a confident walk

he led me into bed and out again

he didn't know me

but he loved what I stood for

he loved how my skin looked

under his hands

sometimes I could smell

his eagerness

I had seen that reaching in eyes before

I gave in

as I was born to do

he took me everywhere but home

 

I watched

while he broke pieces of me off

some he kept

others he threw away

and a few he gave to friends

 

my breath fails me occasionally

I walk into shadows and out of silence

when I embrace a new face

its there

behind my eyes

the ability lies in arms and muscles and teeth

in fists and palms and all the things

that make you a man

 

if you wanted to

I keep the thought closer than my own name

if you wanted to

 

you could butcher everything about me that's alive