the Egyptians saw us coming

loyal branding, you called it
when visitors carved hieroglyphics into the cracks of your chest.
you said the Egyptians knew better than to
break you open again.

before we lost our luster, we stargazed on pyramid tops
hoping to see the point in all the alignments.

i blinked in time with my footsteps and
you counted my movement with syncopation.

you measured me
like sugar in hot tea
like teeth on a knife.

your travels took you across my body
more like a tourist than a person.
it was as if we didn't belong on the same journey.

you picked at the pieces of me
that cried for mending
that cried for more.

you touched every cursive crevice with
the tip of your tongue and spelled
move on
in morse code.

i couldn't let go.
not with you circling me into a cage
not with you boxing me in.

you stored me on the highest shelf of your memory.

half of me wished that you would always remember
the smell of my neck at 2 in the morning.
half of me wished you would forget i existed.