I blame that rib
That Adam relinquished
Too readily
Boys give pieces of themselves
I keep them
Under my pillow, in jewellery boxes,
On windowsills where the sunlight
Makes them fade
I never throw anything away
Secretly I think these boys would like
Their ribs back
It would explain why they
Grab me around my waist
And don't let go
I can hardly breathe,
Ribs bruise; I turn pink and purple as a sunset
The colours that the Hallmark cards
Call romantic
If I didn't have these ribs
My heart would be pulp
