The germs of you snuck in
Through my skin
They just came and came
Not even caring about what
It would do to me
They made a city in me
Every street light was the
Light in your eyes
And the national anthem
Was your laugh
Every billboard was your smile
The stars were the little
Freckles on your nose and cheeks
One day they decided
To take a swim
In my bloodstream
I was having the time of my life
Because you said
"Forever"
But then I found out about
All the other girls cities
You broke my heart
The city inside me did not
Have a reason to be there
I decided to let them go
So I opened up my veins
And all that came out
Was you.

"Don't you ache from all you carry? It could be light, easy."
A little kiss on the spine. A fractured sigh in the blue dark.
"Its become my whole body. Where on earth could I set it down?"
Thunder rolls up her silk stockings.
Rain lets down the fringe of her hair.
Somewhere, a reptile is unwinding,
its old skin left in the long grass.
"Love, let it loose. Give it to me."

I found my muse
in your cold heart
and soaking sheets.
I hope you find
the love I buried
in between.

I've been searching for you
at the bottom of cigarette cartons
trying to remember
if your touch was ever hot
as the ashes falling from my fingertips
I've been searching for you
between the breaths charring my insides
taking my time to wonder
if the warmth between your thighs has faded.

You insisted you were not one for violence
but every kiss was a knuckled fist.
Its been years, but my teeth
are still reeling from
the knockout.
At night, they vibrate
in their white skins- a little
earthquake of you in my mouth.