Three poems by Lisa Marie Zapata

Only Human Mylk

Did you know this would happen?

You asked mid thrust and I replied,

No bc I’m actually in my virgin era

And you wanted to know what that meant 

And I told you that meant I was consciously celibate 

And it was true

It was true when you sent your new address and I rubbed my still damp skin with Only Human Mylk de Parfum and jumped in an Uber when a walk could’ve sufficed 

It was true when I decided I didn’t want to ever be touched again and then met eyes with you and reframed the thought

I didn’t want to be touched by anyone but you.

Hands

My right hand sandwiched between your hands

Nails undone

The pair of us alone, momentarily, in a crowded bar

My nails undone

Silence and a stare

A squeeze of my right hand

Smiles

My nails undone

Fleeting, an exit

With my nails still undone

Point and Flex

Doctor Jay pressured the point between my talus and my calcaneus 

Ordered me to point and flex

I pointed and winced

Crackled and flexed

He placed the needles methodically 

And said,

You’ll be dancing in no time

Eight weeks

________

Lisa Marie Zapata is a writer and dancer from the birthplace of Frank Sinatra and baseball.

Lisa Marie Zapata is on X @LMZzz and Instagram @ellemzeee