Cathexis
a tender forehead
hidden under strands
of shiny, black hair
that also veils
the corner of my eyes
each eyelash
on eyelids shut by sleep
or tears
that run down
red, fluffed cheeks
and quivering lips
before dripping down
the cup of my chin
outstretched palms
with light fingertips
that gather to my level chest
to staunch a numbing ache
and then press clumsily
to my unflattering gut,
to arrest the fluttering
the valleys and hills
across the length of
my heavy legs,
all the way down
to my constantly
tripping feet
you knew them all.
they still know you.
Heather Ann Pulido is a Kankanaey-Ibaloi and bisexual author from Baguio City, Philippines. Her work appears in Roi Fainéant Press, streetcake magazine, The Hooghly Review, and other badass magazines. She is a poetry editor at JAKE and has been nominated twice for the Best of the Net.