sandwiched in your laughs,
sunlight of a thousand crisp mornings,
not one bit contaminated by the night

you've grown soft as you pick
out your words, dusting off the edges
marshmallow bite sized

soft fists, air punches, trimming down
your claws, diving down into safe
snowy white pages, and now

i can no longer explain to you
how my pain is not your pain
and how your pain is not mine

care to listen, all my
pauses and blank spaces are intended
my reluctance habitual

shield the moon from my thoughts