"We Promise to Protect Each Other" by Lauren Dotson

We promise to protect each other
After Willie Perdomo

which means we pinky swear it
which means we draw
our pinkies
like switchblades
from brassy knuckles
which means
i hold your hands

between the pocket space where we keep
the taser between the thumb & index the hammer between the index & middle
the cross between the middle & ring & the middle is my weapon of choice
which means

i talk a lot
but my face says
i can’t
fight

your face says we should run which means
i face you standing still pressing my switchblade into yours wishing the switchblades were switchblades
& not pinky promises we draw from brassy knuckles
want brass knuckles but don’t want proximity
want a gun but don't want that smoke
want incense but only handmade
want these hands
to be protection
enough

that’s what space in poems are for: to store arsenals

in this ars poetica keys between my fingers never felt comfortable like i would get sliced too
if it came down to it

i am walking across a blacktop
i could tar myself into
the sun is saying
i should get home
but home is on my hip
i am aware of you
& all the things that follow to follow & nothing more
which means
we promise to protect each other
we pinky swear it

————————————–

Lauren Dotson called us from Chicago, IL.

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