growing my own skin

my veins were telephone
wires aching to 
to contain you-- travel
through me--
sounds-- echo in each
of my blood cells--
you-- the last voice
to ever feel electric 
in my body-- the outlet
on the wall wants me to
plug in-- this is
the story of how 
my blood became static
as you held me-- me 
the boy still sending
telegraphs with his tongue--
Morris code is the only
language the stars talk 
to each other in-- 
pass fingers over braille book
sky-- they 
says love is blind
but so is a voice--
i'm in the process of
growing my own skin 
now instead of 
keeping flesh in 
a small jar 
by the sink-- it's turned
me liquid-- my face
a great lake-- maybe
lake erie-- cold & 
shaped like a scab--
i peel off my scabs 
in fascination 
of my own blood-- my own
blood is a lake swimming 
with electric fish-hooks--
fish hooks for my 
painted lips-- painted
turtle promise me 
if you see me 
as a great lake on
the horizon that you'll
at least send me a telegram--
tell the stars to speak--
they dance Morris code &
i don't understand Morris
code but i'll know
by their arms raised
that they are telling 
me something about being loved--
yes, no one uses the telephone
wires anymore-- that's why
we have satellites &
that's why we have the 
wireless router--
green light blinking--
not speaking Morris code--
my wires are lonely though--
i trace each wire vein--
blue with lake water--
now if only i could teach 
myself to grow my
own skin-- i'd plant 
myself at the base
of a telephone poll--
spread ivy--grape vine--
entangle electric-- electric
from the last time
you
said you loved me--
static song bird--
robin robin teach
your throat about 
lightning-- 
my skin grows back
my skin grows back--
i've never been a painter--
i've been electric wire
ivy-- a hydrangea bush
in telephone 
rung bloom--
the bees fly into
the outlets-- pollinate--
my face painted on
with my index finger--
a jar by the sink--
the mirror is really just
a window-- back painted
black by a night sky
complete with
the chatter of stars 
whispering that you
love me you love me--
& my telephone wire
veins remember
your voice only
as electricity &
blood