Exchanging
recommendations under flickering lights                                                           ­                                !                                        we transpose the nature
?                                                      ­                        of our insect-like movements

$                                                   ­                                               
with the slick of our collars,                                                
our dull-shine badges.                                      

Eye             ­   
                    makeup
arrayed in sheens                      
                to blow your eye's burn
away

back into
                                         the cold of space,
                                        where you belong

the skirt of the star's burn,                                                        
to sear you (un)clean
without alarm.

with a certain sweltering silent charm


Somewhere, saturations swell  
in non-                                    
casual ******* singsong.      
Klarity is substantiated.          

Forgive a whiff into cigarette dust.
Into reticulated (t)rust.

✙

How many leaves
connect
    to form the               tree's glow?    
I'm sorry               for asking
now
I must go

...

Forbidding madness
with a
keen
brow-
bent
glare

ballroom harpies                          
                               ­     chase you backwards

down
a
flight
of
stairs

.              
.
            .

what is this caution
here cushioning me
porous like bed foam
harm eating me slowly

?
smirking consistent smart
a loneliness for hatred

.              
.
            .


Tear me up for what is holy in me
crumpled '****-poor' regard, it's a satin-shure smile
I am churning and I know (not the exit)