chloramine

have you ever wondered why you can’t taste your own tongue?

you can roll the tip of it to the back of your throat

and fold it on top of your tastebuds and

you can push your saliva on top of it

and swish it around your mouth,

but you will find there is only an indistinguishable insipidness.

i cannot taste my own venom.

a genetic disposition ― unaware of the toxicity i spew

you can thank my father for that.

i will spit acid on you and think it tastes like honey.

i was not made to love and you aren’t cut out for it.

nurtured to be virulent ― toxic waste wrapped with a big red bow,

but moonshine burns before it makes you feel warm.

you yell over spilled milk, but it sears like the sun.

if we could taste our tongues,

it would resemble bleach and ammonia.