Real as Ribs

Tell me-
Did you tremble too,
or was that me
shaking on the sides of you?

Did you breathe
or were you dancing your chest,
Like a human,
Me- sensing your humanity,
real as your ribs
and the hot tea
I spilled on your sweater sleeve.

We laughed
because my hands
are big for girl's hands
and yours are small
for boy's,
and our fingers-
crooked in the same ways
so you said I'm like a mirror,
and I smiled because you smiled.

Swallowed in your favorite eyes,
I remarked
the alcoholic benevolence
and the human so speculated,
so sideways chastised
and warned against,
remarked the humanity
real as your ribs
that trembled on the sides of me,
Repeated for my sake:

You're just as much a fixture of this
As the frame around the window,
And I'm learning.