A daily reading from One Poem Only—a quiet space for a single poem, read aloud.

Inedible

Sera

I wish I could cover

my body in spikes,

become unappetizing,

indigestible.

I poke holes into my image,

pour lighter fluid over it,

flicking the flame on

and burning away

the outline you memorized,

char the version of me

you still think of.

I wish I could transform,

shapeshift

into something you hate.

I chop my hair in

uneven sections,

cut lattice into my face,

unravel the centre of myself.

I bite my fingers raw,

throw my body against concrete

until it's beaten bloody.

carve my tongue

from my throat

so I can't comply.

stab forks into my sight;

force myself back

in control.

I wish I could break

every single one of my bones

so I can slip from these cuffs,

this cage,

contort myself to fit

between the bars.

I know I have the key

but I can't find the lock-

I'm blind.

I need to break myself

out of here.

time is flying

but my wings are broken.

I take a bat to my back,

pepper spray my face,

swallow a grenade

and drink acid.

I wish I could mould myself

into a mushy mess,

become nauseating,

off putting,

tasteless.

I run into traffic,

tangle myself in the tires,

chugging gasoline.

I jump into a pit of spiders,

cover myself in bites and stings,

eat handfuls of bees

until my cheeks swell.

I'll dip myself into a

lake of boiling water,

seeping deep as my

skin bubbles up.

I'll roll in what repels you,

leave with a matching stench,

use jagged stones

to scratch up any

blank space remaining.

I wish I could melt down

into the cracks in the earth,

hide in the soil

from the eyes in the sky.

drag wood against

my arms and legs,

hair turning to splinters.

I shave my eyebrows off

and pick at my lips.

I'll tie my teeth to string,

slam the door,

take pieces of glass

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