reforestation 

i built a rainforest in my shower.
sat in the corner of the tub
with the curtain drawn.
you must always be
on the lookout for intruders.
mine did not carry a knife.
he carried his face on a dinner plate.
white underwear & bare feet.
there are secrets we keep
to save others & there are secrets
we keep to save ourselves.
this one is both. i picked ripe fruit.
i ate until nectar dripped from my mouth.
no one needed to know. a fruit bat.
a colorful bird. the leaves that grew
& grew like eyelids. i had visions
of the house bursting
with ferns. a wild abundant lightning storm
shaking the teeth of the house.
his bedroom filling with beetles.
i once took a knife & wrote 
in my flesh, "i know what
you did." i did not actually do that.
but i wanted to. but i saw the flesh
as a closet to keep my dresses in.
letting the bathtub fill with thunder.
my stomach hummed full of night creatures.
i stayed as long as they would let me.
closed my eyes & talked to trees.
a river of mice. wrapping the towel
carefully around myself
& wondering if there existed
a perfect way to conceal my blood.