Paper Cuts

While crossing the river of shorn paper,

I forget my name. My body,

a please leave. I want a patron saint

that will hush the dog growling

at trimmed hedges it sees in the night.

I want the world to be without language,

but write my thoughts down just in case.

Send help, the dog’s growling

won’t let me sleep. I haven’t slept in days.

I am looking for a patron saint, but none

will let me pray for guidance. There is a buzz

in my right ear that never goes away, no matter

how hard I hit the side of my head

for loose change. Most mornings I wonder

who I can pray to that will make sure I never

have to survive waking again. Most nights

I forget to pray the rosary, though I sleep with it

by the bed. I’ve never owned a TV because

I’ll replay this conversation in my head.

My dead lovers are hungry in the kitchen,

so I fix them food they cannot eat. I make toast

of vellum paper, fry an egg made of crepe.

I only want a patron saint to protect me.

I only want someone else to bleed.