turquoise

 
I’d expect
an irregular stone
polished smooth by all
these clenched teeth these
held tongues
 

words
bitten and
swallowed
first one
and
then
the
other
 

so many years
 

I’d expect it to shine
I’d expect all that copper
to intrude
 

I’d expect handfuls of
blue backed with
static
 

slipping through my fingers like a radio dial