The Mule

The Mule
(Spring 1994) © 1994 by Kristi Martel

"That ass
that is your own," he said. I know
it is the only thing I own.

This body of mine
and the feelings it contains and everything I make
is what's mine.

And I'm sitting around or I'm moving.
I battle these things I carry around with me. I battle the boxes,
the tools and the dishes,
the poems and letters and artwork
and the music
I carry around with me.

I want a fire
to come and burn my belongings. Leave only what I make
and this body of mine.

And we're lying around or we're fucking. I battle this feeling of wanting to
hold on to you.
I battle this feeling of

wanting you.
And I battle I battle I battle I battle I battle battle I battle you too.

This body of mine
and these feelings it contains and anything I make for you is all that's mine.

I see
you are a lot like me.
I know
your love will come and it will go.