As Steam

As Steam

by Allie Marini Batts

burning as invisible as steam
fingertips, a collage of blisters,
deflated with the help of sterilized needles, or changing pressures in the air.
fluids that might have been blood but aren’t quite, escape
burning as invisible as steam

the dinner pan is ready, a test drop dances and evaporates,
as invisible as steam-
I scorch the outside of the meat, it is always raw in the center.

Cleaning up after you, such a tedious chore—my chore—
Frypan in the sink, grease and fat burning as invisible
as steam, clamors to my open pores

the stink of dinner and washing up fills the fan

even the cats leave the dining room to play Nintendo

leaving me burning

as invisible as steam
not wanting to play wife anymore.

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Allie Marini Batts came here to kick ass and chew bubblegum, and she’s ALL out of bubblegum. She is a 2001 alumna of New College of Florida, which means she can explain deconstructionism, but cannot perform simple math. Her work has appeared in over forty literary magazines that her family hasn’t heard of. She has lived in Florida, Maine and Washington state, but thinks the best trees to climb are in Tallahassee. She is a research writer when she’s not playing with her make-believe friends. Allie is pursuing her MFA degree in Creative Writing through Antioch University Los Angeles and oh no! it’s getting away! To read more, visit http://www.kiddeternity.wordpress.com.

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