out
of
it
p a g e s e v e n
copyright1999-2001, Christine Hamm
UGLY*
Ugly follows me home from the subway.
He trails cockroaches and lies and smells
of rotten eggs and magnolia.
Ugly touches me everywhere.
He gives me dreams with ants,
helmets and octupi.
I wake up sneezing and in love.
Ugly brings home the flu instead
of flowers. When we kiss his snot
mixes with mine
and he wipes it on my face, gently.
Ugly leaves pieces of himself everywhere.
His teeth break into bits of coal on my lips.
Ugly starts staying out all night.
I cry and scream at him. It gets
Ugly. He stops coming home at all.
I break all the mirrors and start vomiting
in the morning.
Then I realize,
I have become ugly.
LICK/SKIN
Put your hand
on my knee
slide your palm
up my thigh
(wet fabric
between)
and brush with
finger
tips inside
my burning
burning
mind.
In the elevator**
going up to your apartment
you jam your hand
down the front of my pants.
And I'm not wearing underwear.
This is sudden and
makes me wet
but I think you
close your eyes
not to see me
but to see yourself.
You're living
in your own
private porno flick.
I'm not starring.
I'm just an extra.
I'm just along for the ride.
*published in 3am Magazine
**published in 3am Magazine