Stretch

Muscles wake twisted
soft nest yields biting muscles

Mom stirs a huge pot of trippa
with tomato sauce and peas
The scent nauseating to me, but some love it

turn and stretch my body, measuring breath
cracks and crunches
think of yesterday
body was nestled in comfort

when I forget to be grateful I
wasn't achy from retching

Mom boils capuzzell'
an old-world lamb's brain and skull stew that I
don't try the smell is familiar

parts that should not be forking out of me
stuff on spoons I should not have sucked up at all
had a bad clam!

I am unaware
forgot to make myself aware that
this happens only rarely

As I stretch
I forget to be grateful
after congestion leaves my sinuses
after flames of pain torment my temples
after swollen bones and sinews assault my ankles
after, not before

thankful
bits of sour contents,
small and large intestine, do not float
often
in my bowl

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