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dreamt about my childhood friend
he said I never loved you more -
my parents have lost their bite,
our yard is overcome with their failings,
can I stay another night?

his parents went to church
and he wore his father’s haircut
but he kept his mother’s sunken chest

my friend, I thought it was you
driving downtown back home
- you know all our memories
are sand and fog?
I would have waved but I tell
myself I see you most nights
when my childhood crawls into
my crooked spine.
your sunken chest
your father’s cropped hair