he is smirking lips

wine-scented breath

warm kisses stolen in an alley

inky curls

painter's hands clutching a

flask

-

he is the Dionysus

of the barricade

paint-stained fingertips

charcoal

smeared on the face of his

lover

-

he is rain on a summer's

day

the iron tang of

blood

absinthe puddled in a corner

and hope.