Velveteen

by Bill Neumire

Night is when you take off your breasts.

The babies sleep by pretending

they’re inside you

& past the loud arms

of light

you take off your breasts & lay them

on the cherry dresser with your rings

& bra

& you crack your toes & groan

like you’re lying somewhere inside yourself

& you don’t want me here

or you want me here

but without making myself

known

& the moon remembers you

& you sleep by pretending you’re inside her.

Published on October 21, 2016