by Jasmine Khaliq
titled after Hélène Cixous’ The Third Body (1970), trans. Keith Cohen
before I realized he was interested—I can’t remember a real thing
I drank, I had dinner, I’m sure there was wine, plum slices, sauce pitchers—
and I laughed, I looked toward him—and everything slides off, narrator,
protagonist—myself himself, myself myself—slip dress
pulled over head, inside out. all stitches. watching each
chosen curve of my hair, my hand—just so,
for you to receive. even when I dream.