//bitten rot//
Panna Gattyan

it’s just like biting

into an apple that’s rotting, 

or climbing a tree crawling 

with ants.

in fact the tree itself is crawling,

its roots raking up

new mud for the ghosts

to not-sleep in. it’s like biting

into an apple that’s rotting

and then chucking it into recycling.

it regenerates blindly

(softly, and then rough to touch)

and those who watch for the shift 

go mad trying.

it’s like biting with all your teeth

all at once,

greedy with time and with pleasure.

it’s like biting into an apple that’s rotten,

a rotten apple, an appled rot,

a rot that is appling


and every time you bite you

lose your mind a little.