Tightness
Christian Rodriguez

You know that tightness that comes from living 

The tension that comes from letting 

You know the aching that comes from gripping 

With your teeth to something that bit your back 

You know the grunting that comes from hoping 

That they’ll care for the wound they so carefully 

carved out 

carved on 

carved inside 

carved behind 

Your tongue so that they could see it 

When you dared loosen it up 

You know the tightness that comes from living 

That tension that comes from letting 

You know that you miss the tightness in your cheeks 

And the one in your belly 

And the one in your feet from running 

And the one in yourself for caring