Milk

---

He is afraid that her white stomach

will ripen,

stilling blood-black waters

and staining sheets.

He can just about see faint periwinkle lines,

stretched

over hips.

Later, two hot drinks are placed on a table.

They both stir.

They see a navel form, a deep mound

inverted in milk.

Never-mind,

the skin has gone now—

scraped away the layers with a silver spoon.