"Second Mouth"
Other-lips whispering between my legs.
What they called black hole not-thing
is really packed full of secrets.
A rebel mouth testifying from the underside. Careful not to let it speak too loudly. Only hum demure in polite company — never laugh or spit on the sidewalk or complain
lest we both be dragged under the wheels of
one of those. Or worse coddled
smiled at as at a lapdog acting wolf.
Or worse called ugly a cruel joke. Or —
there are always worse things.
Too many messengers shot. But then
who wouldn’t fear an eyeless face
whose ghost stories always come true?
- Franny Choi
Again we see Choi express deeper meaning through her use of what others may consider taboo things to talk about. I feel talking talking about her lady parts being her other mouth the reader sees how she must constantly cover for the annoyances that come from with it. Also as we see in the last line, "But then
who wouldn’t fear an eyeless face
whose ghost stories always come true?" when you try to explain whats happening down-under you get critisized for being "disgusting" as if we control how our bodies are made.
who wouldn’t fear an eyeless face
whose ghost stories always come true?" when you try to explain whats happening down-under you get critisized for being "disgusting" as if we control how our bodies are made.