venus

i’m going to peel off my face. a venus of sorts.

all arms. no head. no lips. no brain. no teeth.

just a slender torso and a voice that says

i am everything you want if you imagine

the rest.

.

no one ever wants the whole. not even a half.

he wishes i had a different head and had

it been up to you, you would have melted me

down, left me in the shape of a silver girl,

wishing that i had been gold.

.

i am no venus, no galatea.

i am a boy with a face

and i am so hungry

it hurts.