iron deficiency (after lucy knisley)

my mouth waters at the sight of red,

jewel-like and soft, wet,

prickling at the edges,

threatening to flood.

a gentle ragged snick,

then muted thud of steel against wood.

snick-thud

snick-thud

pools form at my fingertips.

i wait for water to boil over,

green lush on the edges like forest.

i eat with my hands and watch blood paint the loops, alive.