Tiptoe

By ani difranco

Tiptoeing through the used condoms
strewn on the piers
off the west side highway
sunset behind the skyline of Jersey
walking towards the water
with a fetus holding court in my gut
my body hijacked
my tits swollen
I'm sore
the river has more colors at sunset
than my sock drawer ever dreamed of
I could wake up screaming sometimes
but I don't
I could step off the end of this pier
but I've got shit to do
and I've an appointment on Tuesday
to shed uninvited blood and tissue
I'll miss you I say to the river
to the water
to the son or
daughter I thought better of
I could fall in love with Jersey at sunset
but I leave
the view
to the rats
and tiptoe back