What the Cats Know

[ChristopherSea]

Hey chris. Most of this is pretty good. I can see you have already successfully workshopped it and kudos to you. I only have 1 or 2 things.

What the Cats Know

Ella/Todd/tectak edit 3/version 3

Only the night
and occasional cat
see me naked and vulnerable,
sneaking out to the recycle bin
or standing on my deck
in the cathartic rain.

sometimes I think you lose confidence in your writing and explain within the poetry. This is all pretty good except for "vulnerable" and "cathartic". They are both just explaining what your narrative already show

I’m capable of baring all
in the bright sunlight,
revealing that one testicle
hangs lower than the other;
letting it be known
that an alien worm
clings to my skin and taunts
where my appendix used to be.
I could expose that blue veins
fishnet my loins and thighs
after making love
or vigorous exercise.

fishnet my loins I pretty darn good. I don't think you need "than the other" or "bright" . Also, while your line breaks are fine throughout, they are a little staid. There are a couple spots where you could create some double meanings or build tension. Consider experimenting.

Buried beneath clothing hides
those furtive moles,

There is something awkward in the way this is worded

the splattered ink of secrets.
Scars gossip of my journey
and unspoken history.
Deeper still, where axons amass
and synapses bathe,
dwell murmurs of how
I feel for you.

I don't know that you need unspoken history at all as journey infers it but if you do, I suppose you avoided untold to avoid the cliche but you should just go with it, unspoken reads odd.

My layers are transparent
at night
and I become a glass artichoke.
Before the moon,
I lose all mystery.

Glass artichoke is great. The rest looks pretty good to me, great job so far.

Thank you milo for taking a look and giving sage advice, as always. I believe that some over-explanation in poems results from responses to readers saying something is vague. We much use caution not to bastardize our work! Ella asked about vulnerable as well. My next edit shall try to incorporate your suggestions. I will strive for that brevity that you speak here and in my next post as it shall be a more minimalistic poem. Much obliged for your time and attention!