bugs under my tongue

by Chiara Maxia

you like me so much better when I’m naked

I liked you so much better in my head

there are bugs under my tongue

coming out the enlarged glands

of all I’ve never said

you wouldn’t allow me to

you wouldn’t understand

you like me ‘cause I’m low-maintenance

I’ve never asked for much

I keep hoping you to turn into something else

all I get is bloody awful poetry.

***Stay tuned for Chiara Maxia’s next monthly installment on September 9, 2025***

Photo of Chiara Maxia

BIO: Chiara Maxia is an actress and writer originally from Sardinia. She has lived in different places, including England, Moscow and Paris, where she graduated in Film Acting. She now lives between France and Italy. Her work has appeared in numerous literary journals, including The Opiate, Tint Journal, The Argyle, Paris Lit Up, OpenDoor and Our Verse.