"Feelings are malleable
stretch them out and wring
them in all shapes, roll

them to little *****, bounce them
around like overthinkers
do, then you see them

leap up like cocoons
in the bowl of your hand"
he says with wide gestures

on the limestone boulder –
paddles of thumbs
and laughing eyes

under the rooflets
of white eyebrow hairs
pushing straight forward

He gives me a wedge
of Gasparini's meringue
yet he still has all his teeth