# #leather

3 poems

## [food](https://chromato.graphics/food)

a girl’s gotta eat,  
grow big & strong  
food becomes fuel  
fired brick oven

i have reservations,  
my seat’s set aside  
gin martini stirred—  
small coin of lemon.

white pressed linens  
red leather cushions  
polished steel fixtures  
scarred marble veins

amuse my palate  
gift from the chef  
_we kindly request:_  
_no sharing allowed_

a girl’s gotta eat,  
wash away fears  
enjoy my choices  
wet lips, appetite

taste first with eyes  
each flavor distinct:  
salt, grit, acid, burn  
hungering for it all

the first bite builds  
anticipation of more—  
a mindless chewing,  
my posture softens

i lick your plate clean  
_it’s been taken care of_  
have i saved any room?  
no, some other time

## [triumph](https://chromato.graphics/triumph)

you outfit us in leather armor  
tie boots tight as heartstrings  
we dance and breathe as one  
enter prisms — offset blinking

INFORMATION GLADLY GIVEN  
BUT SAFETY REQUIRES AVOIDING  
UNNECESSARY CONVERSATION

underground, understand a halo  
grip my thighs below your wings  
breathe — you ask “_you ready?_”  
to leave, to ride, to fly. of course.

don’t look down & don’t let go  
become part of a red machine:  
a bell, a backpack, a balance  
gripping tightly, holding loosely

i am not afraid to ride with you  
to glide across rock and sound  
my pilot is divine, invincible even  
molded contours promise safety

PLEASE HOLD ON  
SUDDEN STOPS ARE  
SOMETIMES NECESSARY

as we swerve, we synchronize  
we’re on an island, smiling wide  
small compared to a lighthouse  
even smaller against your frame

my sister thought she could fall  
along the same route we travel  
but i know i fell for you already  
ache is just what flight feels like

## [gender.app](https://chromato.graphics/genderapp)

pull out my phone  
tap on the app  
needs to update…  
they always do

new gradient  
same icon shape  
wide colorspace  
hard to adjust

why do we all  
want to shapeshift?  
to be seen through  
filters we make

on the G train  
dark grey sweatshirt  
black leather boots  
riding crosstown

slider tempts me—  
drag it slowly  
no one else stares  
they just don’t care

this is my stop:  
girl in red dress  
heels to match her  
lipstick and tits

costume changes  
inside closets  
infinite fits  
incoherence

it’s not just me,  
everyone plays  
gender’s this game’s  
in-app purchase

micro actions  
& transactions  
never enough  
to fill the space

if i’m always  
searching for it,  
the right setting,  
flipping through them

will i know when  
i have nailed it?  
new release notes:  
patches the bugs

what if i’m stuck  
inside a loop?  
keep it running  
there’s no kill switch