I try to look for you but I keep seeing a girl
       nursing her stuffed bunny with a plastic water bottle

except every time I look
       she’s lowering it. I keep missing the nurture but I know

it’s happening. where there should be words
       of affirmation—pink and tender—there’s fizzing static.

I’ve swallowed gallons of sparkling water
       and it’s sitting in me, seizing. we can try to channel

surf but I’m afraid we’ll end up on something
       I’m not allowed to watch. it’s perfect, I promise—it’s so perfect

I spilled it all over myself. I’m trying to stay
       stitched up like a good doll, but my mouth is too tight.

record a punk love song
in my voice box.   it’s all
or                         nothing.