I have a friend who says he cannot be my friend anymore
in case I want to kiss him one day.
He is the type who makes me guess what language his favorite singer
speaks, and if I guess the right answer, he will present a

shark tooth that I can make into a pendant. Yet
he does not want evidence
that females exist at all, all the way in Denmark or just downtown,
driving forty miles to get to a movie theater so no one will
recognize in case I want to kiss him one day. I will not

yet he worries my parents will throw him in jail as if it is our
culture, the way the girl he is in love with
wears capes every day, even in summertime. She is the type to
sweep dust petals from the floor in a shape of hearts.

My friend in love with her, is still more worried that he may kiss me
and what it might do to their thousand miles apart
if we get caught. He forgets it would be like sliding my tongue
into a shark’s mouth to whisper some sweet goodbyes.