ribbon cutting for my wretched mouth

there are people who buy land
just to eat it. i have seen them
in the old field with their fingers
dug pie-deep. they talk to each other 
in money religion. i order a bird online
& she arrives dead. didn't you order
a dead bird? tell us how we're doing.
give us all your teeth & we'll refund you
the breath you used. it's not looking good.
it's not looking good at all. i once
dated a pillow. he was really a pretty good
gentleman. do the items i stole from target
when i was a different gender 
count towards my total? i braided 
my hair for years you just couldn't see it. 
i arrive at the party. there is no party
just a few people gathered around 
a ballon trying to stay warm. 
the piano is out of tune but we sing.
we sing like a revolving door.
all my friends want to move to somewhere
better. we are somewhere better. this is
the better somewhere. that is just
my way of saying that i think we have
to try. i sometimes have horrible visions
of running for a political. just like
everyone thinks they could be
a better parents, everyone thinks
they could be a better empire. if i ever do that,
take me out to my parents' garage
& leave me there for a winter, feeding me
nothing but wild onions. i am holding
a gathering that you are not invited to.
it is just for me & the flies in the kitchen. 
a little ribbon across my lips. maybe now
i can tell the truth. maybe now 
when i open my mouth you will see
the tiny girl standing there. to have
a gender is to have another gender inside.
i'm sorry we're closed. our operating hours
are from here to salvation. i am just
trying to get here. snow falls for
the first time this year.