Iaso

alone in a hotel room, 

I lie split—nape down. stiff 

& stuck in a breath, 

the only evidence of life—

eyes, leaking.

& the mental crowd just watched. 

SheeMi said, “it hurts 

to touch yourself, doesn’t it?” 

—a woman filled with itoldyouso’s.

I confessed,

mhmm

but it also hurts to not be touched at all. 

—a body lies hollow—

so I gathered two sprawled hands & began circling

down my back & belly. 

I whispered, 

this body will not go in vain

this body will not go in vain

this body will not go in vain 

til I was sealed. 

not even jesus himself performed his own baptism.