AN HONEST TALK WITH DAUGHTER (if i have a daughter)

daughter

your mother will teach you

how to swing and wield

she will show you

how to cut

how to open skin

of things

how to shine and slit

and make halves of

this whole world

and i

will tell you

what blood tastes like

my mouth made rose

from kissing your

mother’s crimson creases

i will whisper to

your wounds as well

i will clench stitch-up

needle and thread

between teeth

house your scream

under my tongue

keep you from tasting

your own iron

but still

i cannot swing and wield

a sword i have never had

the strength to lift

i cannot pretend to

know how to cut

or open skin clean

i cannot begin to

know the weight

of woman and weapon

i only know

how to be sheath

daughter

i only know

how to be sure

you are safe

and sharp