Ode to My Body Parts

Belly

White, dipped expanse
Laying flat on my back,
watching a lowered curve with every inhale
Ribs, hip bones, mountains to this valley
An unexpected lily-pale softness
Not hard, nor unforgiving
Silvery striped and waiting
A caverned belly button,
built for tongue and smile, proffered jewels
An unexpected lily-pale softness-
an unexpected love

Toes
 Paint by number crayola parts
Stubby,  stubborn 10 Little Piggies
disappearing one by one
Calloused, not at all fond of socks or shoes
Curl carpet deep with a full good kiss
Plant me firm when love sways my back
With your faces painted red to face the world

Lips
Swollen again
Always crooked slightly to one side
Tight tipped peaking points
and want to pierce the Medusa, walk around top heavy with white gold
Learned a great way to kiss in Brazil
(Slide your tongue behind their top lip,
against the gum)
Remembering makes my lips ache and swell again
Made for kissing, absolutely
Not enough to just smile, a show of teeth
Not enough to make an  Oh! in surprise,
or a corner canine bite with indecision
Made for being the gateway of tongues teeth gums
Bottom lip to top, top to bottom,
middle to middle
Slide your tongue over the Medusa,
the way I showed you
These lips and flesh could never be stone

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