saint valentine (portrait of the artist)
ribs that protrude and
hips too sharp, that dig into the ground
and hurt
when they try to lay down
spine that cowers over,
instinctively.
each vertebrae poking through paper thin skin.
at the back of the neck: semi-circle scars in multiples of 8
veins too close to the surface for comfort.
limbs too long and
gangly.
too thin (no matter how much they eat)
on the left forearm: semi-circle scars in multiples of 5.
hands, that would have been beautiful
if they had not been used.
ring fingers crooked. a callous on the side of the right one. scars from places not even they can remember,
circular one on the left thumb, minuscule lines on the left pointer finger. hands that make, for they can't do
anything else.
angles too sharp and bony
to be held,
they'll be knocked over by the wind. on the right thigh. circular scars in
multiples of 3.
on the left, faded lines in
multiples of 2.
dead-eyed stare.
this is not a thing of beauty.