We’ve carved ourselves a place 

like heat held close to the chest

I imagine revenge as cruel as 

the first day of spring 

and the remnants you left behind

We snag each other, 

acrylic nails in hosiery 

clear polish 

and the memories of a time before 

when everything was undiscovered

I want to unlearn you

I want to imagine the shedding of our protective callouses

I want to re-create us in the image of myths and fairy tale villains 

who were never afraid to say what they wanted

Here’s my offering 

this imagining 

this table

this tequila, mesquite  

the desert we’ll never view 

another possibility undone

I arrive with my skin, shiny and newly grown

I’d ask you to be gentle, but I don’t expect much

I’d ask you to touch me. Go ahead. 

Show me how you imagine our eventuality.