Annihilate

shark's eyes

oversized and not at all flattering,

jeans and snickers made for the tasteless.

you look dull, younger.

everyone, absolutely everyone, glances away.

but i'm look-starved just like you -

where is the eye, that will be fixed on me

and me only?

there and here again.

you look there but come back here to me.

no, i'm not listening to your words, but hands that meet and

then come apart to float through.

i have to follow them, those hands that are the perfect size and

perfect color.

not even pearl-like, but the belly of a shark-like.

not yours, and not even mine, invisible until you suck all the strength

to focus on them.

how you look at me is how some people yawn

and make that ugly, unnecessary sound,

like a reminder that they are here and breathing.

you are like them when you find me, 

and when you turn to me with your whole body,

and when i refuse to look away

and what am i even doing with my mouth,

maybe they're curling like a snake,

maybe i distend too much or clench beyond appropriate.

not even important, those red

miles of darkness, only eyes are lightness

that keeps me safely chained to you.

older than me and wiser than me,

lonely as me and sad like me.

i finally look away, but you just can't.