strangle the names
by which you’re known
choke them in the windpipe
before they write themselves as stone
put the flames out in the eyes
that see you in the mirror
you are not what you perceive
or even what you’re told
but more than can be grasped
by the limits of the mind
there is no body to confine you
no shadow to slant away
and then fall short
of what you’ve tried to be
butcher the yous you know too well
and dress them out
stalk the ones you’ve tried to tame
but could not reach
if you cannot die each night
you’ll die one day before your time