Notes on the Cell Wall of Us

Peptidoglycan

• Also called cell wall

• Separates the interior of a cell from the exterior environment such as water content

• Consists of repeating NAM to NAG sugar chains

  • The cell wall full of car sex that makes my car groan in disappoint

    • NAM

  • The cell wall full of forbidden bruises that your friends pretend not to see

    • NAG

  • The cell wall full of melodic whispers throughout sleepless nights

    • NAM

  • The cell wall full of nostalgic glances and our hands that yearn for each other

    • NAG

B (1,4) Glycosidic bonds

• Bond holds together cell wall sugar chains

• B (1,4)

  • When I take warm showers because they remind me of your touch

    • Hot and then gone a few minutes later

• B (1,4)

  • When I tell the story of us to a new friend

    • The chapters filled with mediocre sex

      • With bylines warning her that the book never seems to end

• B (1,4)

  • The parking lot that still hums to me when I pass by

    • Where we met up for the first time  

      • Made love

      • NAM

      • Fucked

      • N  A  G

      • Made love

      • N      A      M

      • Fucked

      • N          A         G

Lysozymes

• Found in tears, saliva, milk, and mucus

  • Found commonly running down my face after interactions with you

• Breaks down NAM and NAM (sugar chains)

• Not even the lysozymes that fall down my face can break the cell wall between us  

  • N    A    M

    • Strangers pass me in cars

      • As lysozymes fall down my face

        • I see her smiling in the passenger seat next to you

  • N       A      G

    • Strangers pass me in the art museum

      • They see a painting of our hands crying out for each other

        • I notice the painting was signed when you were high

  • N          A         M

    • Strangers pass me by the lake

      • I see you making love to her underwater

        • I pray an alligator finds and rolls you to your death

  • N               A               G

The Cell Wall of Us

• But now I hope the cell wall between us finally breaks

  • So that the water can rush in

    • And the cell connection between us can finally lyse