To peel yourself layer by layer:
¡Wachate Wachate!

Your most dangerous weapon.
The smooth talker’s best friend.
Nourish it—
                        before it’s taken.

La lengua
the firehose let loose
the break from its sense
like twin talk.
Nourish it—
                        before it’s taken.

When all went left
it was the tongue’s hardship to forget itself
exercised itself             taught itself
                        I love you
exercised itself             taught itself
                        I hate you

& repented all the same.
Ahora, la lengua kneels at alters
sin miedo sin vergüenza sin pecado.

The tongue remembers: puddles are no place to swim.
The tongue remembers: better to be slipped than held.