NewPoetry

Tessa Liem

I want to leave the house in the clothing I sleep in
& not need to go home again.

But I am not well enough to leave,
not well enough to sleep

& so when I stay home
everything I do is political

because I’ve been reading about the ethics of space
& because

sometimes I lie on the floor
until you text me asking me why I’m not out.

& because sometimes we have to have sex
with most of our clothes on.

Sometimes we lie
on the floor naked & text everybody who is out asking:

……………“why aren’t you home
…………… .being political?”

because sometimes we have to stay in,
keep our bodies ethical

so to speak. If we go out,
we will have to dress for the street.