peeled from
wall like painted tape

masks our
ages,

raised a page
towards youth’s flame

and licked up ash despite
its taste..

streams like ink between
my temples

into sky.

prescription
scribbled on my hand..

bland sunday
head buried in someone’s story,

asked for
the housekeys back,

drove to hear music move
like my body’s
steam,

night whistles through
the cracks we
dream.

dress up any
horror,

softer side of blade
on ribbon-

drag it tighter
to match mood of room,

unfasten mask
to watch them gasp in fright

daughters drape the stairs,
all eyes after
midnight.

blue breath in playground
older dogs off leash,

ice rinks in backyards
kid neighbor’s father screams,

night stars frosted to my glasses
woodsmoke whispers
winter’s name

like crystal.

branch like a maze
of veins-

umbrella’s me
on storm-lit street,

never lived
for fear of who I’d meet,

a cracked glass candle
dripping dust,

your sleight of hand’s
got me drunk

on letter better left
muzzled in
drawer-

your bite marks
no more.

may i be
consoled to see

the heart
in each burnt star?

to know that you’re
not dust-

I slip away,

now
face to face
with waves that claim

the spark from every
raindrop
tries

to
soften
gravel eyes-

we drag the shore
in search of
calm,

sand writhing
half alive.