My pillow's stained...

by all those nights
we slept


alone.

Do you reach for me
in the absence of sleep...

letting your fingers
playfully tease the cold
from empty sheets

tracing the indentation left
from another

unwelcome
yet sweetly whispered

Goodnight.

Do your eyes softly focus
not
upon the darkness
but lingering gently over the contours
of ruffled folds
filled with the ache of each new night

without me there

as I do as I always do

when I reach
for

you.

Who's saving you next, little girl?
That beautiful boy who offers you ******* and breakfast?
Or the woman at the store who stares as you pass by
Tries to catch the scent of your hair
Wants to hold the sparkle of you eye
You
You just want to be heard
That's why you never talk when you're sober but
When you're drunk you always fall in love
And in the morning you have anxiety attacks
Can't make eye contact
Yeah girl, you're so pretty
Pretty like the flies who lay their eggs on dead things

I bought a new car today
It is red with
A sunroof
And trendy black wheels

I'll cruise by with music blaring
And smile
And wave my hand
Through the open roof

There will remain a hole
In my heart and soul
That is black with
Tiny scars where life and you scratched me
And there is no bandage so it heals

I conversed with
Salesmen today

I was smart and witty
They hung on every
Word I spewed

My opinions where all astute
They bowed with great reverence
My attempts at levity
Were greeted with heartfelt laughter

I conversed with
Salesmen today
I was John Stewart,
Jerry Seinfeld, and Bill Clinton
I was interesting and debonair

Then I came home
To you
And I am . . . Nobody