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there’s a lamp burning oil
covering the walls
of the trailer

there’s a dog barking
and a whimper
a cat scratch or a hungry
belly

teeth are silver or golden
holding us over for a little
while longer
that’s what we tell ourselves

spilling the water cooler
on the floor
so the carpet sounds like mud
she throws downs a towel
and asks
“how can? how can I?”

remember when I called
you by your first name
so angry I shook
and barked and whimpered
like a dog left out
too long?