At a Loss For Words

when all there is left here

is fingernail clippings

and shoes

and things to groom with 

these two lips are parted

top on top of bottom

and at a loss for words

for a time one may quiver

until it recalls 

the other night

it was told to be still

and know the order

of pasting then cutting and

cutting then clipping

that nail that will never be small enough 

that will never be wise enough

to tell how one is to go about

clipping under 

orders of ‘be still’

be dry skinned

be still

and know that

this will shake you and 

undress you and

caress you until

you never needed clothes to begin with

and leave them on the floor

with fingernail clippings 

and shoes