Through Thick Skin

Underneath your clean fingernails

beyond your soft hair 

inside your empty pores

into a heart full.

I love to swim through your veins 

I’m sorry for pricking your smooth skin

there are a few of my edges that haven’t rounded 

I’m sanding them down

making sure I don’t miss any points.

you bite my lip 

prevent me from kicking over loose stones again. 

I’m sorry I’m not quite steady.

I’m working on it 

I’m going to be.

Soon, I’ll be such a good swimmer your body will have to absorb me 

as a necessary protein

or vitamin

you’ll need me without consciously knowing it 

I will be the one who is there when your sugar is too low 

when your blood pressure soars 

when your skin cracks from the lack of sunshine. 

let me show you how it feels to be taken care of.