my heart in poetry

my heart as a ratty thrift-store jacket
with a wad of hundos sewn into the lining
if only you’d check

my heart as a day-glo marshmallow cereal
with one hell of a free prize inside
if you manage to get through the sugary crap

my heart as a lottery ticket
that won’t win if scratched
but if you send in the second chance drawing on the back
there’s probably a trip to Alaska or something in it
maybe the ticket is called “Cold Cash” or something
if you just take the time
to mail the thing in

my heart as my heart as my heart as my heart
all gross and veiny and prob’y enlarged
but full of warmth
full of lifeforce
full of love
full of blood
if only you’d punch through my ribcage
to see what I am
my heart is a hell of a thing