Jennifer Ingredients
by Jennifer Eldridge
Reduced Iron
Water
Skin—Dead and Growing
Green eyes
On the end of
A split fi nger
Tracing the
Nose of a lover
Too perfect, complete
He must have come
From a book.
Freckles
In the speech of secrets
With a friend
Whose hands
Are beautiful
Like classic-black
Evening gloves.
I know I am real
Because my lips are
Petal-prints
On your cheek
And I have helped
Wash your gloves
No wine stains.
But my skin cells
Remain.
I know I am
Not real because
I cannot show
Either one of you
How well
Both of you
Sit in my stomach
How much you have
Filled me full
Thickened my bones
And softened my arteries.
I cannot pull
Back my skin
And crack open
My bones
And show you
My marrow is good.
I cannot be the nerves
For the hearts
Of your tongues.
I cannot be
The metallic scent
Of your blood.
Jennifer is missing.
Maybe between all
these pulses
Breathing electric, I am
Only trying to keep you
Alive and whole. Your bodies
Are dying and I am
Adding pieces of me.
Where you give me
Substance I leave
Residue.
