“how’d you get so big?” words bounce up and
down like the six-year old two steps away
and shy, wishing she didn’t voice every curiosity
wishing she could be okay not knowing
i stare down
eyes at six-feet and hairline farther and knowing
that she must think me a tower, a colossus
impressive or terrifying
maybe both
my mouth opens, lips stuck together
i do not know how to tell her the
how-to guide
how i wished myself big when his hands
closed in, how hard i prayed to be
large enough to never be fucked with
that cowering and small i stretched my arms
until aching thinking that i could become
tree or sky or far away from here
so i tell her, “eat your vegetables.” she
takes this in for a moment, nodding as if
she understands like a song she knows by heart
i tell her to open her palm real wide
until her muscles ache a little
and i call her bigger while she is still so small
