He was warm like a summer stone
Earthy like a boy should be
And girls are more like water
But I only managed mercury

She’s manicured like the neighbor’s yard
a blonde and blue composite
and the holes in the soles of my combat boots
drip rain water like faucets

She’s staring over her clipboard
He peered over his coffee
She asks what’s wrong—clinically, past ice water.
He folded my hand up in his—lovingly, past menus

I focus(ed) on *diner checkerboard tilescream pile carpeting

I tap my foot on a chair leg, and give nondescript answers
*I tapped my spoon on a tea cup, and gave no answer at all