you said you liked me
wintered
weathered
working
you said you liked
the crease between
my lips and nose
from the pack and a half
a day
you said you liked me
but you said you didn't
need me

I dreamt you cut your hair
galvanized and grey
You are the graze
Of finger tips over
A dropped knife
Stuttered speech
Is the same as the way
You catch me
From across the room
And I’m sweeping
The fondness shed

Sweat pooled behind my knee
Do bees need to sting?
And didn’t you ever love me
Even if only for a second
I just wanted to know

I’m not
Drunk anymore
Not ever
And I used to worry
That would
Take away a spark
I thought I had
No more feet pressed
To pavement in early hours
No nighttime
Sunburnt love
No more fires
I don’t want to put out
Poetic lush
A prophetic  touch

I used to worry
And I still do

Remember when we were sweet
Butter cream and gardenias
Not built to last in the
Atlanta south

My roommate
Cut his feet
On glass I broke
Twice at least
And I feel a lot better
Than I did a year ago

Poems
Like the flowers you keep
Pressed to pages
Mythology of the
Soul
Or your shoulders
In motion
The summer time
And salt on
Your lips
I found out
Barefooted
On asphalt so
Hot