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Widemouth

Chris Litsey

Oh, gaping open hole,

swallow, swallow, swallow on down,

gulp after gulp like air and desire are

going out of style.

Flapping lip, easily ensnared,

trapped on a line defined by the jerks and

reels of the other side.

I cannot untangle myself from the traps

of my life.

The hook's too deep,

jutting out from beneath my eye.

The orb's transfixed on the silver line of

being hauled to the inevitable end.

All my bluster and flopping about

undone under the bleeding sun.

I'll find out at the end if I'm to be fileted

or if it's catch and release.

Chris Litsey is a teacher, poet, and former editor of Indiana University Purdue University Columbus’s literary magazine, Talking Leaves. He’s published there and in other publications. He is also a father and loves reading, writing, getting tattooed, and exploring museums. He lives in Muncie, Indiana. Follow him on Instagram: @christianlitsey.

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