"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. voicemailpoems.org/submit/ facebook.com/voicemailpoems x.com/voicemailpoems bsky.app/profile/voicemailpoems.bsky.social instagram.com/voicemailpoems