Leaky

bound

in colorful and sacred ropes 

I knead my knuckles into the indents of my restraints

she asked me to open up 

secrets seeped out 

under the cords and through the gaps 

lubricated by something resembling trust 

and the almost-empty wine bottle between us 

and the bone dry one under the table 

and the love note she left taped to my door the next morning 

I waited until I could spill out 

I’ve heard love is unraveled honesty 

unending cords pried from

the planets in your eighth house 

the tears from the very first time you didn’t let yourself cry 

and everything you want 

too much, to risk speaking it into, or out of, existence