Notes on the Cell Wall of Us
- Emma B. Spears
- Mar 15
- 2 min read
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
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