This Mouth Full of Flies Does Nothing but Swallow
by Benedetta Ciappini ︎︎︎Flies love cavities, above all the ones that almost never see a ray of sun.
Those that condense in knowing they are enclosed.
They are greedy and look for an entrance; they do not stop at the obstacle of flesh; every crack is a door.
This mouth full of flies does nothing but swallow, and you imagine it alive. You imagine it empty and instead it overflows and buzzes. You imagine it mute and instead it vomits.
This mouth that opens only to inhale, the exhalation eaten by insects.
Flies like this cavity full of old verbs left to ferment.
Fermented, they swell and die. And in the swelling, flies drink. They reproduce.
They multiply. They suck verbs transforming them into the past tense, actions not done, not said.
They told you that if you let in a small amount air, the flies would find rest, go away, and let you sleep. Instead you open your lips and they call for backup. They pollinate your teeth and let grow what you could have said, yet instead.
If they put a hand in front of your mouth, if they stop you from opening it, the flies will stay. They will make a den and a family. They will create networks for survival.
And you will only be able to swallow.
Flies - what are we here for?
Mouth - To inhabit these gums
Flies - And what were we hoping to find?
Mouth- A home
Flies - and instead we nested in the shaded corners
Mouth - shadow takes part in living
Flies - your shadow overflows, yours has been condensed for a long time. We hoped for abundance but this borders on delirium.
Mouth - look for some space in the forgotten holes of my cheeks, perhaps further down towards the throat. Old and unspoken verbs do not reach there, they fear falling into the stomach, they fear being digested.
Flies - towards the throat we risk being chewed, and our aim is survival. You feed us through your fear.
Mouth- my fear chokes the streams of air
Moscow - your fear knots your tongue
Mouth - my fear screams in the evening while it dreams, and it sinks.
Flies - let's eat.