BLEED MAROON

I bleed maroon – do you see? –
from the gut,
and that man – remember that man? –
that man who stank and put the armpit to my shoulder
while the rest of his appendage groped

– I think he caused it. –

My gut was bleeding and I saw the wound
this morning feeling ill.
The flaps of skin had separated to show
layers underneath of filling; insulation sliced.

And even further deep there was a little me
that leaked out and I think – can you imagine? –
he's got it. He's taken it and kept it somewhere I don't know

in a jar perhaps with chemical preserves
diluting the color
but keeping my blood code fresh
so he's got power.

That man, – remember last night? –
who stank and took control with a touch.