Jockstrap

forever amazing

that somebody

could love another body

without pride or guile

just wide open

broad

looking at their beloved

hands at sides

musculature at rest

squared off

mouth relaxed

their jaw and nose

and other soft bits

big fat juicy

knuckle targets

I not only

cheat the angle

show you only shoulder and hip

no squish

but I wear a mask

not a Mardi Gras thing

not a festive deal

no

no feathers

a goalie mask

because I won't be pucked with

nostril steam jetting past

a cage

with chipped white paint

those other lovers

they'd have me

face front

have me

rip off my tee

make an unrefined scalpel

of my nails

get under skin

and rip ribs

meat

and bone

with these messy fingertips

with a machine gun zipper

pop pop pop

and there my heart would be

these maniacs had their way

thub thub thub

and I'd what?

I'd hand you an ice cream scoop

and a wet nap?

lemon-scented

dig in

I'm laid open

I'm splayed unclosed

and nowadays

not even anesthesia

nope

I fired the anesthesiologist

but maybe I can

bite down on something

clamp down

bear down

with beads on brow

something firm

but

something with a little give

just chomp some leather

replace that helmet

with a veil