what if i left you in my mouth.
what if i let you taste my humanity
and the poetry on my tongue
and the tears stains on my teeth.
if i can taste the metal of your bullets
you must taste it too.

should i leave you curled in
under the skin in my throat
feet stuck to the sides
because you don't want me to
swallow you down like
my pain pills yet.

what if it wasn't your bullets
you could taste,
but the iron in my blood.
can you lick my bloodstream
lick the blue off of my veins
the red hues fused with my arteries
could you taste my metallic.

my metallic murder.

i know if you stay in my mouth
i will swallow you down
just like my pain pills.
but maybe heaven will be gracious
and you will be a laxative.