What have you known
forgotten soul
four years old at the dinner table
holding your blood in a soaked thread
against your palm, stained streak
left behind
dripping on the floor
(You clutch at it)

What have you known
apologetic, fumbling
fingers grasping at bile on
the hard wood, leave claw
marks when you scratch
away a fine layer of paint
it’s under your nails
(You paint it over again with red)

What have you known
loving creature,
six and a half against the tiles
watching the steam from one eye
tinted gray. Rusting
and seen
melting
(You let it happen)

What have you known
hateful and apathetic
eight torn out teeth 
because you refuse to speak
your father says talking to you
is tougher than beating you
and you’ve never been happier
(You don’t remember what it’s like)

What have you known
caged and misunderstood
twelve hours on the ground
hair trimmed short to expose
you neck. Bandages wrap around
your Adam’s apple,
choking when you swallow
(You spit out a molar. Get up)

What have you known
freefalling lost
bird, wax wings, aiming for
a place faraway; you’ve gone ten
mi. and there’s six hundred sixty six to go
you don’t think you’ll make it
and when you are caught, you die.
(You add salt to salt)

What have you known
guest in the sea
eighteen fingers and toes
left. Lit aflame, 
the sea
follows your path
and you find yourself
(Drowning.)