Boil and Beam
The red enameled kettle whistles to the artist
it’s beautiful song
Yet underneath the steel, scalding bubbles of water swim and pop
like firecrackers
The kettle’s spout spouts steam
that dances a jive through the air
Yet it sits on fire that burns blue like a bruise
through the depleting interior
It cries tears of steam
Tears that condense into words
Words that you hear
Words that make you cry yourself
That make you understand what it’s like to burn
and what it’s like to sing
Because after all that’s why she does it
To hear the song and to breath in every note
To drink up every meaning and feed it back to you
She dances on her blisters because those blood soaked socks are proof that she’s alive
that she is somebody worthy of your time
worthy to take up space
So when a kettle pours her water into your cup
know every sip you take always includes a secret splash of blood and tears