Bites by Cody Clarke

Bites
by Cody Clarke

I used to take bites out of her
and that was all I looked forward to

I hated school
so I'd cut and sleep through the worst classes
in this corner on the 4th floor
where a big green garbage can
blocked me from the sight of guards

and at the end of the day
I'd bring her home with me
and she'd let me chew her flesh
purple and red

We'd do all the other stuff too
but I liked marking her the most
I liked that she'd see spots of me
in the shower in the morning

then the full map
in the medicine cabinet mirror
as she dressed

and the best was when she didn't see it
when I chafed her in class
under the clothes her mother chose for her

We only lasted a few weeks
and when we got back into bed years later
I could barely touch my teeth to her

She was too far gone
and she smelled of tuition