al{one}
with> my >glass >of
w{h}ine
i /fail /to /shed
the "fli""ck"er" '' ' '
of your flame
de _ spite y _ our logic
& my
shame
too. blind. to. see
@light
therewasneverany
~sense~
<to us>
not. really. ever.
&certainlynot;
#tonight

i re __ ally
havebeentrying
you. know.
>> letting> it >go
is just a bit(e) more
than
| starving |
ch\ok\ing
'br''eak/ing
~~peel~~in~g

how do i
inhale
without you
cuz breathing is easy
when there is no meaning
minutes are too long
& who cares
where i go
after
where we've
been

maybe
you've-had-it-right
all/  a/    long
i. don't. know.
how.
toslowthislove;
D.  O.        wn.
~~sp~in~
sWEll
some\shallow\attempt
《 》》 to inhale》
your <lips>
in. my.      mouth.
fing er s on
my _ veins
thighs@myshoulders
your )( redolence )(
your-hair
the mellllllttttt
we = feel
your °look°
my
STare
& who w{c}ould
ever
(want to)
For _ Get
that¿
[my] dear

how >you >love
totiemeIN~ knots
get ^me ^hop^^^ing^
and CUT-ME-OFF
i grew you daffodils
&you;; favorite rose
what's. in. it. for. you.
¡what¡
¿could you want¿
《pull 《me 《 in
shove. me. out.
having me {be sure}
i'm crazy
So C _;oLD
if you are try"ing"""
to make me hate you
it's >[[>[>>working
or ~~maybe, you sense
i love you
most/when/you/say
No
{whoknows}

sitting #myfloor
AgaiN
nothing new
THaT. song. comes. on.
《I'm《 back &
| locked |
in ~your ~smile
breathing-you-in
such a love[ly]
re\col\lec\tion
soFuLL
& _ so _
sc'at' ' ter' ed ''
<°in °pieces°°>
all at. the. same.
Ti }me{
the ache = a small matter.
play it; a_gain
(let's)

XY

it's ^not ^so ^much
that i can't seem to
| decide |
just whateveritis you want.
from. me.
it's the spoons-you-favor
to hollow》 me》out
that hurt¡ the most¡
my dear
it's never a clean cut
because i /rare{ly} see / it
coming
{hush, now it'snotyourfault
to know~any~better you
would have. to. know.
yourself}
so just _ keep _ digging _ in
i'll keep #breakingdown
hoping you >go >ahead & take
whateverisleft
}while you're{
at. it.

walking along i
look up at the moon
it's only a silver sliver
an end to summer
&so.;        i thought of
you;
the tiny pieces
left ^inside ^of ^me
always
[in all ways]
just _ under _ my _ skin
not really a pain
mostly//likely
an ache
nestledthere
behind
my ribs
along with the 》 long.   ing
burrowed
withinthemarrow
of each
bone

it's _ not _ the
worst\thing
this.
beinginlovewithyou
when i stop <to <re <collect
the empt [i] ness
i would otherwise know;
you know ~ i've tried
#others
no | one | fusses |
with ^my^ bangs^
presses>their>shoulder>into>me{lting}
wears those [mydeargod]
thigh - high - BooTs
<like you>
myhands @ yourhips
you trace ~my ~veins
i _ steal _ every kiss
& pray ' for ' time ' to '
stall. there.
just. a.
mo...   men. t.
     *more

i just want
to feel
something
again
because you showed me
there was more and now
i've forgotten
how to inhale
it doesn't come so
easily
spinning all my
hours
stuck in between
your hazel & the silence
that
waits for me there

i don't even
know why i
look
as if i wasn't
so. thoroughly. aware.
of what you
Do To Me
oh~ you'll~ be~ there~
you & your tragic grace
orangeeyebrows&gypsytears;
ravenwings&torridwords;
you-just-go-ahead &
dance there
with/your/beer
& i'll just try. not. to. die.
each time;
because it's the knowing
even >in >the >moments >be >fore
how _ I'll _ regret _ it
in the ^same ^instant ^
one can feel so completely
[      empty.     ]
only< after << feeling so
completely
F  [[u]]  LL

~ wi~n~ding~
     through
the
     desert
just ^after ^^°dawn
nooneontheroad
it's _ cool & it's _ warm
the stillness holds. me.
#funnyhow
i \don't \feel \the \least
bit \lonely
[alone]
mean _ while _ the moon is
uP ^there ^all. day.
__ long.
&idon;'treallynotice;
maybe if you ask
all the lovers
who've 《《come _ &gone.;
"there//there"
(just breathe)
~see~ the
tiny-yellow-grasshopper
has >come >a >long
for
the ride¿
}.gentle reminder.{
all-in-all it's all a crutch
mov》ing 》for》ward 》
is ¡ all ¡ i've
got ¡
&
it's
<eno*ugh

i can't. even. remember.
thelasttime i could
re<mem<<ber
my dreams
¥et
waking 》this morning
{so certain} you had been
here.
i swear i could taste you
on^ my^ lips^
it was how. you. looked.
at. me.
& wh((is((pered that you
had-never-been
kissed
like _ that _ before
andiheldyouthere
& had | your | mouth;
~even ~though
i had. to. wake.
Dear God
it-was-the-most de _ li _cio us
sleep
i've
#known

just for the record
i always knew how lucky
i was next to you

let. another. one.
》》go
she _ didn't _ slow _ dance
&shedidntlaugh;
[like you]
she didn't drink ₩hiskey
or read #poetry
¿what was i supposed
to do¿
don't-know-how-to-need
what's in 》front 》of 》me
for | however | long | | there are |
stars&divebars;
i'll °keep °looking°
~ for ¥ou

fun//ny how
hazel
made. me. forget.
i HaTe Vegas
just like; auburn
canmakeme
visit _ the _ mall
&thos;; sliver limbs
&dim;;° waist°
}my} hands} fit
perfectly'round
can >make >it >all
make. sense.
all | those | things | i
#neverwanted
&presssedagainstherhip;
just >for>get >a>bout
anything i. thought.
might; matter.
&wh;; cares¿
[let'sbehonest]
what's-so-great
about~wants~anyway¿
& 'when 'she ''trace'''s
the veins >in >my >arms
with her del _i _cate
fingers
just 》go 》ahead
ask. the. cream.
¿if she cares for honey¿

how i wish you
would{n't} call
your voice
》shoves 》me 《back《
livingroom\ _waltzes\ _ _
[ed> ray > amos]
~singing ~our ~songs
Tuesday ○pancakes○
&you;
inthosetiiiiIiiiinyshorts
Sundays _ trippin' _ in _ the _ sand
waves&clouds;
snuggledupintowels
cho/k/ing°°
on° laughs° as
umbrellas wisSsk byyyyyyyyyyy
all. that. slow. lovin.
<inourcozysheets>
& your breath [onme] was
all. i. could. ever.
need.
it | was | just |
a moment ago
i swear;
when-you-call
[mydarlingsweetestlove]
it's {no} hellllllll - p
At. All.

believe me
i _ know _ how _ sure
{you'llsay}
i fell for whoever i
think. you. are.
face it; darling
you know
Soooo.  Ooooo many
>>give >> lessssss
for so¡ much¡ more¡
{certainly romance is dead}
&woman;~
you just. stopped. keeping. score.
so convinced//broken// is
what\hearts\
are\for\
i guess five-hundred
miles-away-was-safe
to ex》plore》
how the. time. spent.
onyourmouth;
it just ^meant ^more
& i know #youknow
& you wouldn't
let | it | show
did¿ you ever¿
ask yourself
¿₩hat
for¿

thereisa
space _        between
knowing
&   owning
that. smacks. me.
Up | SiDe |
                    down
》just. when.
i¡ catch¡ my¡
breath;
[whilethereare
always #bodiesineed]
it's some crumb
        °infinite-soul-magic°
i tasted in your voice
&on; y{our} tongue
those are
en _ tire _ ly
dif>fer>>ent>>>
pains
&;so your mouth
d(i)ff(i)cult to
let {forget} _.      go

fingernails
trace,... my》 bones
morn°ing° coffee°°
& wine soaked
good{nights}
all~ in~ all
she should. be. what. i. want.
- so-who-knows -
what ¿season
could ever be¿
enough¿
^there's ^^no^^
《taking 《it 《back
you;strawberry
}moon} }
days2short
& lo _ _ ng _ _  es _ _t
nights. e\clip\se the
bl ack
tattooofyou
<can't << e <<< rase
skinonskinonskin
[however vague]
my highs//
my lows

¿what's it about '...,,
idontknowtheletters;
i _ dont _ know _ your _ :"code
maybe
you
get _ off 》》
knowing\know\known
how. Much. i. want. you.
you have; yourself
&whateveryou;
meant.
all >of> the >someones
who _ you've _ met;
noquestionsasked
no. second. thoughts.
you make {the love}
you-take-it-all,...
only^to^say
    you _ can't _ ;
&you; won't

st | u |ck in rearviews
~what ~could ~have ~been
...sa...[buried]...nd...
istilltasteyou{r}
hand-in-mine
i hear you{r}
smile
on. my. lips.
>driv>ing> 14> h> ours>
to _ share _ an _ afternoon
/gone/ too/ soon/
ifanyoneisasking
& you don't

shades/of/gray
&thesoundofyourname;
when breathing = needing
&wishes;
are just. empty. cups.
&forgottensongs;
it's _ mostly <always> _ you _  
&poetry;
all the hues we heard
sk,...ip,...ping,.. ₩ords,...
like sk _ ip _ ping st _ one _ s
&yourheartbeatisall;
that could ever{really}matter
to ○ me

it's sup _ pos _ ed to be
a | memory |
《Left《 behind
yet i'm riding shotgun
with. a. stranger.
only ^to ^see
McGarthy Jewelry Sign
<<gold//green//gold//green>>
glowing 2nd avenue
inevernoticedtheway
* it's * lit * up *
they-have-such-pretty-things
{& you}
&rings;
i wonder what i could choose
~for ~you
[[silly me]]
alliholdnow
is _ your _ name

Ok,....
here _ we _ are;
《back 《again.
{i can't breathe....}
don'tknowwhoiam
¿How could i miss
the° signs°
the cu€;
What you. Meant¿

You held\ my hand\
You let \ me in\
yet, here you are,
~telling ~me
there-is-nothing-there,...

[i'm so] confused
¿have i gone mad¿
Howdidimiss
what-ever-it-is;
your intent¿

You^ took^ my^ heart,
in-your-hand
& just as quick.
You. toSSed. it.
back.

how does she¿
seem to know
the moment I'm letting
Go;
She reaches for me
again
>>>****** in>>>
drowning in
hazel eyes
& pale skin
This hell i'm in;
she won't have me forward
only let's us
begin

I can't see the sunset
without her
My eyes blink open
to her name
& yet
She. Won't. Own.
me
¿Is it all
just some silly
Game¿

you tip,...toed,... in
a _ gain
your perfume
just |an |empty
bottle
{i'vekept}
like. words.
so/ man/y syl/la/bles
spent #promises
{wecouldn'tkeep}
so | full |
of the = memories
even. now.
i'd >still >go >there
{withyou}
the °smell °°of °you
sends Me
to Ne₩ ¥ork in Jul¥
& the ¡taste ¡of ¡you
in. my.
hands.

the' min'utes' be\tween
every-minute-with-you
are e. _  ver _  lo .     ng
you ^ra^di^ate
some. kind. of.
°magic°
when /holding/your/hand
isn't
just,.....;
it'severy*single*thing
my<undivided>joy
#touching
= breathing through
my whole 》body
<not just my shoulders>
&afterthesemoments;
time is _ br>o _ >ken
ea'ch ' tick ' of ' the 'clock'
is. not. the. same.
[&me;]
for | ever | chang_ ed
how the minutes@thereafter
}without{
you
linger
some. kind. of.
torture;
too __< long
¿when will we touch
again¿

sensSssssse_ d you
<before> i heard you [gasp]
<before >
i ^saw ^you
<before> i//just//knew you
were there
walk _ing by
{allstripes/greeneyes/purplehair;}
&how;¿come¿really
as》if
hundredsofmiles
thousandsofbodies
aren't 》enough
funny _ how
we-could-both-pretend
to| not| see|
the second. biggest. lie.
of them
all
ex {c} cept that
it didn't
mean. a. thing.

timing-never-mattered
to me
i still crave you in my bed
{regardlessofthatnonsense}
& all those things
you (said (to (me
Nevermind, darling;
you're so. pretty. in. those. jeans.  
Yes; let's
~dance ~to ~your ~favorite
song

it's not-the-end-that-i
》》looked for
\but // here we are
there _ is _ some
relief
maybe; i can wrestle back
allthethoughtsinmyhead
that ~have ~been ~so
tAngLeD uP in YoU;
#truth
was _ al.    ways
there. to. see.
but who¿ doesn't¿
yearn for * fire * * works *
[whatever works]
wearealljust
trying-to-get-by
have to wonder what my vowels
& verbs
will. have. to. say.    
. _ . _ . > Now

such a
re>>lease
you. You. U.
[finally]saidthewords
i need
to~ get~ me~
off my
#knees
all this
_ _ time I
| re | fus | ed |
^to ^ see^
     {it's you}
it's/not/me

call it
whatyouwill
there's {no} room for
shame
that-slipped-through
a. long. time. ago.
dear.
she's> taken> up; with
pride.
each/ does/ so/ well/
To
stay _ out _ of _ your
sight

there's-really-nothing
quite\like\
second chances
To fill. you. uP.
fellforthegirl in love
with-some-one-else
N <Ow>Doesn't that just say
it.      all
& this adoration
icarryinmypockets
has ~never ~done ~me
much good
but _ then _ again
allireallywanted
was; you

cotton sheets
my<&you;>knees
somanysyllables
@fadeddreams
all i see
is. your. skin.
hazel blinks
s _
       ink
            ing 《 in
&yourlaughterinmymouth;
is-the-sweet-est.   Taste
where/gra/vi/ty
fails. to. exist.
allthereis
has _ never _ been

my<&you;>knees = and you between my knees

there ^is ^a ^sound
/it makes//
this.  falling~~down~
for you
it's late nights
& neckbites
whiskey
& red lights
it 》 rushes¡ in¡
to | spite | my | head |
co-ntra-dic----ts
the words <you said>
the + count+less+seconds+
since. we. met.
s imply s pent
running laps
toholdmybreath

ju* st another *sun day
^^UPSIDE^^ d
                      own
》inside《              》out 《
~~ pull ~ me ~ Ap~ ar ~ T
caN'T put. it. back.
#kiddingmyself
you mi gh t change-your-
mind ))
stack uP those minUtes
{buy back my life}
stu _ ck  __  he _ re
facedownonthefloor
some how/some way
| isn't | getting it;
done.

it\doesn't\take\
@ genius
to know
you're. doing. it. wrong.
spendingyournights
swear _ ing; swearing _ ing; swear
ing

this life is too.     ~ long ~

shiPwreCKed
&   all.    stretched.     out
hands | gone |   hol. low
mouth\ just\ a \ gap
&lips; and lips&lips;
still sting from the sliver
{of her kiss}
teeter on the° tip° of° it°

what. Ever. is.    left  

it'sthewreck
in your: chest
= some mess of ribs
&the; bits of spine
{not enough to}
stand up. 》               Fine;

   ....   you.   stay.   still.  

what's ¿one ¿more night
On the <cool> kitchen Floor
#everything in reach
allthethingsyouneed
none of this is €asy//

ju _ st-keep-on
          < >  breath <  > ing <  >

bu* _ ck _ led t _ i _ es
b £ lurr€d £in€s
WhenYourM __ outh
& your (( hands ((
don't - say - the - same
thing/s dear.
[try to be cl.      ear]
i know >> it's a stra >>>in
when¡ roses¡ have¡ thorns¡
whO    kNOws {what ¿ for}
doesn'thavetomeanathing;
you\do\ and. /you/don't

there. was. a. time.
coun' ting' '  stars' ' '
poems\rhymes
the Sssssmell of
eu^ca^lyp^tus trees//
the ~sounds ~ of ~
tangerine
[&aquamarine;]
your liPpPs;
my _ dream _ s

》》now i
hold. all. this. (                    )silence;
{however || tenderly}
along-with-my-whiskey
& the
€ternit¥
BeTw | EE | n
ea" ' ch. " " tick." ' '
' of
' the
.. ' .. ' .. clock

O <youknow> the words
sound so simple
~Letting ~you ~~~    go
but; ha¡ there you are¡
In. My. Skin.
& it's a ''knee ''****
a {{back {bend
a hair 》pull
purple bruise
| paper | cut |
where¿doieven¿begin
spl/it/tin/g /cel/l/s
unwish-those-wishes
....to° the° moon°
Unkiss
     Unhold
          Undress
& back a _ gain
you're in [you're in] you're in
left < to < face
the GReater truth:
there is no
                   UnDo > you.

layers-of-you
| layers | of | truth |
is it ¿ still a lie¿
when you just. don't. say.
Who am i to = judge
i ~ had~ your mouth &
"maybe" a few other ones
but; here ^ you ^ are ^
《back 《 again
Stepping out//sliding in
how. easily. you'll. pull. me. in.
such  _.  a sucker {for those eyes.}
& slow gin
the ¡sound¡ you ¡make¡
whenyoufeelthepleasure
of _  the _ pain
how it #lingers [with you]
the/ next /day
you don't _ ever _ have _ to _
saY;

layers-of-you
| layers | of | truth |
is it ¿ still a lie¿
when you just. don't. say.
Who am i to = judge
i ~ had~ your mouth &
"maybe" a few other ones
but; here ^ you ^ are ^
《back 《 again
Stepping out//sliding in
how. easily. you'll. pull. me. in.
such  _.  a sucker {for those eyes.}
& slow gin
the ¡sound¡ you ¡make¡
whenyoufeelthepleasure
of _  the _ pain
how it #lingers [with you]
the/ next /day;
you don't _ ever _ have _ to _
saY

how you like to tie me up
in knots
{{not the way i want}}
you hold my hand
you hold the cards
& then you shut it off
you play it down
[if only you had kept your mouth]
[if only i hadn't had you]
on my tongue
your hands in my hair
i wouldn't care
i could shrug it off
but you dig in those nails
{{while i make you fl _o _ at}}
& it's not enough
your ups and downs
i can't keep up
i'm torn apart

Oh* howIfucking hate <loving> you
{forgetyou}
& how too u try to placate  _ YoU;
wear your passion // darling
own.  your. wants.
you _ are _ so _ much _  prettier
   with.    them.         on.

don't _ know
>>don't >>care
you/are/just lodged. in. my. ribs.
youarejustnestedinside
& it's alright
i\don't\mind
i walk the dog
i £ive my £ife
it's ~ only ~ when ~ i see the
sun ^^rise^^ the
bl°ue° sky°
whenever. i. breathe.
or think¡ about¡ life¡
that _ i _ even
》no 》》tice

w/your hands in my hair
who could care
if Venus is on the wrong
side of the moon
{{can't blame us; we are all}}
trying to get closer to you

hand-in-hand-in-hand

we fit so nicely on your hip
i wish i could have
met your mom
let's get in my  car
& not look back
we don't have to call it; love

hand-in-hand-in-hand

when kissing = breathing
¿how can i stop
stare at my beer
while i drink in those
hazel eyes
so happily-happy
suffocating
on the feeling

need to stop. wishing.
it's just >grains >of >sand
itdoesn'tmatterhowmuchthereisofit
it's still _ just _ sand _
in | the | end |
& i can't watch° the °waves
with\out hearing {{your name}}
'cause crashing >>is >>crashing
it. all. feels. the. same. [to me]
forgetthemoon
she never did _ me _ any _ favors
¡especially¡¡ when she¡ made¡  you¡¡
~ come ~ true ~