bathtub

the world is a colossal bathtub

i'm too disgusted to get inside,
to let my foot touch the cold bottom,
but i do anyway
because i want to be part of the world
i want to be clean and smell nice,
         just like everybody else.

as the tub starts to fill,
i'll let the hot water scar my naked body
with a thousand sharp fingernails
while i shut my eyes and smile.
its wet warmth will slither between my teeth and find its way to my throat where it might linger for a while
          like a worm trapped inside
          the womb of an apple

i go through various degrees of pain as i try to find the ideal heat
and they are all so beautiful

when will I drown?
i've always preferred showers.