"I may not be a girl but I love staining joints with my lipstick" by Kt Amrine

it’s something about that red cloud on the filter blushing

back at me. a grainy flower bud, the edge of something

bloody red, lipstick painted my teeth like I’ve torn a woman

apart. you’ve got something on your teeth running

back at me. a grainy flower bud, the edge of something

I used to think was mine. stemless wine glasses grew 

apart. you’ve got something on your teeth. running

my tongue over my teeth, my lips, my joint bud. 

I used to think it was mine; stemless wine glasses grew

in my manicured hands. the wine and polish matched

my tongue over my teeth. my lips, my joint bud

not kissing, not yet. then the toilet seat clutched

in my manicured hands, the wine and polish matched

what my body couldn’t digest. mouth wide, expelling,

not kissing. not yet. then the toilet seat clutched

acid dripped from me, splatters of

what my body couldn’t digest, mouth wide, expelling.

its something about that red cloud on the filter, blushing

acid dripped from me, splatters of

bloody red lipstick painted on my teeth like I’ve torn a woman.

Kt Amrine

Kt Amrine is an MFA candidate at the University of Alabama where she reads and edits for Black Warrior Review. She earned her BA in creative writing from Denison University. Their previous work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and has appeared in fifth wheel press’s digital anthology light ‘em up.