999 Z88

you beat the rooster
before dawn
stirring with your hair
a nest of brambles and sticks
you’re beautiful
when you let the maintenance men
come in and crawl
back into bed
dropping the robe on the floor
your body
a perfect obelisk in the morning

I take your robe
feel the sheer silk
against my legs
and stomach
full of last night’s
memories
I put water on my face
hear the maintenance men
make a racket
I tell them to quiet down

you’ve already gone to sleep
curled up on top of the sheets
bare and pristine
your ribs moving up and down
slowly
as you fall deeper
into dreams
that I know will stir you shortly

I smoke a cigarette
open a pack of cards
splay them on the old table
we put on the deck

your lipstick still lives
on the corner of an ace
red against white
from the time you emptied
my hand
and kissed it instead of me

I laugh loud enough
I see your silhouette rise
on the bed
I say I’ve never wanted another