you crouched beneath your hat and beard
i saw you there, between the bodies
and a smile stretched my face
i thought i tasted blood between my teeth
my mouth clamped shut for so long
you walked, that familiar clack echoing
and something swelled inside me
my kidney or appendix
my eyes flashed uncontrollably
scrambling to inscribe you on my brain
my liver flipped and remembered you
thanked you for that alcohol
we stood between the shadows
our shadows touching in ways we didn't want them to
the rain squelching beneath our feet
hooded girl and hatted boy
you told me you'd painted these walls
the lines so straight i expected blood to bead
as i touched them
i tried to remember everything you'd ever said
the neon sky above us humming
like uncertain laughter during a eulogy
told my brain i could never forget
because to forget your words was to forget
you
you touched my hand
i said i was so sad
and the air felt colder
your heart was muffled beneath your jacket
but it pulsed in your thumb
beating in stereo through my fingers and ears
the fog snaked in and out of light behind you
you stuttered a goodbye but i didn't tease
your eyes were the bluest i've seen them
the instant before you turned away
your hands jammed into your pockets
elbows out like broken wings
the raindrops fell from rooftops
and plucked the reflections of neon strings
floating slack in puddles
i swallowed the urge to call your name
but it went down the wrong pipe
and i sputtered inside
i watched your body grow small and blurry
careful not to blink
No comments:
Post a Comment