Anchor

I unloaded my stomach
onto the pavement again,

a gut check to push my body
to its edges—inflate it

to the point just before it pops,
or as so often happens, just after.

I have learned so much
from my mistakes. Do not pet

a dog’s ass when it’s not looking,
or anyone’s ass for that matter.

If someone offers me a drink,
I’ve taken it and spilled it

into my mouth. Swallowed it
quickly. This is one way

to test how hollow you are.
Do not despair. Inside us

is enough space for even
the most grotesque-looking creatures.

The liver, the lover—

there are worse things
to spill than the stomach.

Kien Lam