1372

you’re making the grade

in plutonium shores

brushing your back with lightning

bruising at the sound

of your voice

you’re drowning in water

turning to wine

and gnashing

while falling to your knees

you’re stuffing

your pillows with crisis

feeding the parrot

ego corroding

to see sooner or later

the night won’t last

you startle

you startle

you startle

I startle

I startle

I startle

light dim

that patchwork quilt heavy

stuffed by the foot of the bed

and I awoke

startled

whiskey on my breath

awoke from a dream

where I died

and there you were

by the bed

your hair

a fiery crown around your brow

holding my hand

I said I didn’t think

I’d ever wake

and you laughed

squeezed my hand

and I thought I might die again

all I wanted to do

was kiss your neck

while you smoked your

fucking menthols

but we had another drink

another drink

and I ended up

yelling

I keep thinking

I

thought my boat

would always beach on the shore

to forget all I left behind me

but at midnight

I think of your crooked smile

and your body

turned away from me

bathed in moonlight