When you wake in the bathtub
                surrounded by ice
your first thought
        will be that you are a crushed mint leaf
                in the world’s largest julep

and I want to say I’m sorry
        I took your appendix
because I feared it would burst
                I fished out your spleen
to balance your humors
                                I stapled your stomach
                because I can’t bear to imagine
                                                you middle aged
                                                and paunchy
and I spooled your intestines
                round a crank
to whittle your middle
                the better to put my hands around.

Haha very funny
        you might say now help me
                                                get out

but I worried your calves
                                had ideas of leaving

so they are under the bed
        and your arms
                now hold me
                and never complain
or steal the covers

                                every morning
        I pet your hair
on my pillow
I pet your tongue
                I cover your eyes every night.