your lips part, the chapped walls
of a great fissure.
my tongue carves your teeth like water
there is something i’ve been dying to tell you
this is the best way i know how.

counting your heartbeats  
ironically
tracing the lifelines on your palm
hoping, my hand pulsing

your ghost presses into me like a sheet
whispering, and all
i ever wanted

to forget myself
to live within your blood

is forgotten