Cage

“Can I put my cancer here?” she asks,
Laying a finger across one of my floating ribs.
“Under no circumstances,” I say, backing away.
She’s a little disappointed, I see.
A little disgusted with both of us –
Herself for asking, me for saying no.
We’ll have to move on – but I’m not worried about that.
There are a great many people waiting to incubate her secrets for her.
One day they’ll hatch, taking their hosts’ hearts for nourishment,
And that’ll be the end of it.

“Can I put my cancer here?” she asks,
Laying a finger across one of my ribs,
Her eyes shining with that smile.
I really wish she’d stop.