undressing: on arrhythmia

when it pounds it could be         i’m the intruder           not my erratic heartbeat

          this fetal pig just trying to take in              a dinner of ribs and lung

my rude flesh wrapping      apron tightness around its flank         mama look

                                        what i can do                       and wouldn’t you

         just pump and grunt           until this pillow body        lifted from your face

    i can respect each ventricle for yelling          an echoed No to crash the atrium

       palpitate in morse               begging to let drop              the weight of me

                       just let it live                                       sleeveless & hungry