there's the

black blank

sky.

and then underneath are

stars in form of

streetlamps; car lights;

like s  p  o  t  l  i  g  h  t  s

on a stage, feet tangled

in a tango with death,

dancing with so much life.

it's like an          insult;

yes,           true,

s   m   i   l   e   s

are simply cynicism.

here my smile unravels at the seams
curving against the spines of my ribs
and oh i, wish i could mean more but
concrete only bends beneath my bones

watch what dances across these glassy eyes
the skin on my face melt, melts, melting
chaos dark matter toxic waste cursed, those
batteries father threw out when i was five

the same year we moved away when
oceans tore home into two, and split
the land apart almost as cleanly
as you do, did, are doing to me

(A.H.Z)