Word

Redolent,

meaning

and import

drench

every syllable,

chewed off

and

spat

or unctuously

caressing the mouth.

ritornello

nag

chorus

argument

Dripping

situations,

stinking of sweat,

muscling its meaning,

stringing my

tendencies

along,

resembling something

mother said,

once.

I hold my tongue,

evoke my father’s,

sister’s.

Pendulant,

words

hang

in

my

breath.

I turn, expecting

them to

be there,

lip-synching

my thoughts

to

you.