without warning
I heard her voice
and was afraid.
sad and friendly
grateful for kept books
but I ran too late.
my mouth, my father’s mouth
exhale memories at the sunlight
their evaporating under.
tan legs on the dash
but my body twists at the beats of your anguish
like you scrape my chest of your mother’s ashtrays.
leaning against the bookstore
I wipe the ash on my jeans
in the silence I chose.
Every pleasurable thing is full of
My jaw between sweat and the carpet to prove
Your peace of mind is possibly at the eye of only one
Sorry, I’m busy, don’t we all
Beg for answers over chewing breakfast,
few know yours, like their own so
Apologize for the smoke in their noses
at 6 and 12 then 6 and 12
Laugh at the consequences of an unearned love
Open your fist for the orphaned keys
They will be the last chance
You get to get the bleeding down
before the next one
We’re all dying and its thoughtless to lead with, “Hey” and “What do you do for work?”
I need to know:
After countless lost loves, I’ve learned that I can’t fall in love, or make love; if you won’t at least answer these questions.
I will.