Exposure

here’s a tongue I never really let out
except for icy showers after bad sunburns
skin blistered lip-pink as my mom rubs
aloe vera down my spine my body a flute
made of bones soft stomach melodies
that wrap around me tight as a string bikini
stinging with saltwater every stretch mark
crying for the arms of a faded beach towel
shame a knot caught in my hairbrush
pain a pleasure as I cool myself
skin dripping like raspberry gelato
I lick the spoon until it sparkles