Stretch Absence

let’s touch navels
breathe into
each other’s hands
wander through our scars
a map we run our fingers past

all this time she and I still pretend
we aren’t frightened of the monster under the bed.

say there is a way
back from where we held
honesty up to ridicule
I blew up that bridge
before I was across
so what
is the point of explosion
if it doesn’t singe some eyebrows

if only she, the fireworks maker.
if only I had snipped the correct wire.

you and I stretched absence
until it felt like embrace
elbows pinned to ribs
let me swallow the sound
when I tried
to cover what you did not say

if I were a woman,
if she had been a man.

but question return
no fold can straighten
wrinkles and no
truth puts teeth back
still I have nowhere
to fit regret
a heart has no pockets