you lit up my
fragile heart
with
bursting vibrant
rubies through
your delicate
words
                           you spin me
                           around in a gentle
                           waltz, a secret dance
                           that only the
                           two of
                           us could
                           carry through
                                                           you charred my
                                                           skin where
                                                           your
                                                           fingers used to
                                                           touch, aching for
                                                           more flames
                                                                                                your cries are
                                                                                                the sound
                                                                                                of a forest
                                                                                                fire, searing
                                                                                                through my ears
                                                                                                all the way
                                                                                                into my
                                                                                                heart

head sways
from left to right
arms swinging
back and forth
walking traipsing
treading
the careful
surface of your
teacup filled with
the bitterest coffee
no sugar
no cream
no teaspoon
to save you from
falling
do
     w
         n

these billows
of smoke
ploddingly
smothers
the willows
of provoke

oh l o v e,

how

b i t t e r

it is

to

     y
        e
           a
              r
                 n

                        for

                               ­   *y o u

the winds
c a r r y
careful
echoes
to the
other
side of
*e a r t h

oh love,*

speak of words
suffused with
saccharine and glacé
that you have
fermented with
chagrin and grace
into these
last eight
remaining days

the celestial bodies
float
above my
flummoxed
thoughts
as another drag
of
this

                        ember-encrusted

  stupor-e­nhanced

                  fear-suffused


stick
brings
life and
death
and oblivion
furthermore