Kavya Makam

Blancophobia

a.) i watched a murder

fibers snapping, audible collapsing, silent gagging

i looked quick—

    a decapitated fish

    you said

“c’mon we’re going to be late”

​

b.) I tried to speak but—

oxygen is taken

    into the lungs through the

a.    nose

b.    mouth

c.    the eyes

​

c.) the fish market is a yard in Atascadero

fibers snapping, audible collapsing, silent gagging

i looked quick—

    a wooden cross on a front yard

    you said

“we’re going to be late for lunch”

​

d.) you said—

muscle memory induces diaphragm contractions;

a hollow hand

never forgets

​

e.) my body is at lunch but my mind is at the fish market

gutted and gasping

that stupid gaping fish

glazed and vapid eyes while

he keeps//

    you keep//

everyone is//

clamoring, cackling, choking—

​

[i am//        //

                   carp cataracts

                in a summer dress]