CONSERVATION ELEGAIC

Thunnus thynnus bleeds so prettily,
watercolor fingerpaints on porcelain canvas.
I splayed the guts upon her cheek,
aligned the spine along the cut of her jaw.
I was unsurprised to see it bleed so blue,
spreading daylit sky around her shivering eyes.
I sewed the smallest bones to her lashes
and told her not to blink.
I wrapped the flesh around her neck
and said this will keep you warm,
this will keep you warm.
The skin I kept for myself to wear,
a mask like any other, but gold and dull.
It clung to my nose in particular
and the scales did not shine at all.
I said now we are worth one hundred thousand dollars.