tongue/tied - Helen Chen

tongue/tied: after “living english work”

to turn fine gold piercing 
chapped coins molded from hair  
now open mouth sucking earth 

teeth out plump flesh 
surgical knives stampeding 

under the tongue blood-busting 
maps of anatomy fingers crawling over
balled up cheeks, forking out saliva so 

cold, death curled back 
dried wash severed from 

house of mouth permanent 
over pulsing veins

kissing your palate where the wind
blows like a chime across the door 

of your lips, a skinny sun melting 
into water if the tongue does not swirl 

nimbly without curse, round rich 
hammer into the mouth straight 

Originally published by (m)othertongues (Bennington College)

Helen Chen (she/her) is a Chinese-American writer based in New York. Her writing is featured or forthcoming in 45th Parallel, Eunoia Review, and Lumiere Review.