I see your walk, through
my kohl eyes.
Your mirrored approach uninvited.
Sauntering slow.
Stop.
I restrain myself from running.
Stay cool.
It's just a beautiful girl.

Tranquilize my heart with
Soft Shocking
I'm the best you'll ever have.
Resuscitate, push.
Don't miss me. I've had enough.

The little girl came to me, with
fever in her eyes. She laid her
sweaty palm on my breast.
"Let me drink from you", she whispered.
Her hollow eyes hurting.
Sick, but effervescent, she
cupped her parched lips, and from me
took a drink.

For hours, she laid herself out in my
lap. "Can I call you mother?", she asked.

I looked at her and smiled. I said nothing.
I think she knew me. I think she understood.

I sat with my arms wrapped around her innocence.
Her fever subsided and she stained my dress
with her sweat, leaving me
marked and tattooed, in a mystery of motherhood

And then, she packed up her bags and left.

The snow is beautiful out tonight,
i say from inside the black room
There is a candle on the floor.
Dancing skeletons across the sky, you say.
Today is January 14th. Your voice flickers the candle.
You alter my light.
Shadows move.

You're playing with the wax. Drip drip drip.
What time is it?
I don't know girl, it doesn't matter.
We all forget in time, you say.
You smile at my back.
I am facing the wall.
I don't take the time from anyone.

You stand up.
Stop playing with those things!
And I put the shadows back in the drawer.

I ask, tell me about the black room?
You tell me it's black.
Is the snow still beautiful out tonight?
You're laying down again.
The shadows are gone.
Dancing skeletons across the sky, you laugh.
Yes.

Hours pass. What day is it? you ask me.
We all forget in time, I reply. You laugh again.

Knock knock.
Someone is at the door.
Get up and get it.
You're still playing with the wax.

But there are no doors in the black room, I say.
You blow out the candle. I open
the drawer. There are no windows either.

We spent some time throwing
shadows on the wall.

Regrets like seizures wake me
Upon me, upon me, dawn
There is a noose in the sheets
Bars on the door, locked
Forgotten but the dream
Rain outside, an imposter
Leaves me here, dawn
Waiting for you, slowly
Surely up my leg, it winds
Closer to my limbs, my fluid
MY THROAT, dawn
Closes in short
Severed, charred hot spasms
BREATHE
I haven’t slept for weeks
And the regrets like seizures
Burn me Choke me Wake me
Wake me

Infrared.
Casting shadows
in the alley
Which was once our home.
Our palace.
Our place of worship, that now,
Only the devil speaks of
And the weak
We carry ourselves high now
Mighty.

Sadly, our place dies.
Elevated and sacred.
But brings anew, a sea-bed of growth
And a hyacinth of hopeful hue
To think,
All this time you knew.
That I would begin again
Fresh.
Spring and fairy-like against
the darkness of blue

Language lives in the dark
Words on my tongue
stories of the streets
The alleys undone

Voices leak in the corners
Conversations resume
Torn between gaslights
Thick as blood, neon, bone

Steam echos the ghost
Fire. Moonlight. Escapes

I've placed Rumor to bed
as Night fights to give birth.