I said forever
with a voluble tongue
and for some reason,
despite no voluable trust,
she believed.
Easy to open,
easier to discard.

Stay without a word
storm clouds pass above her smile
My arms open wide

The streetlight
limns her—
with heat
and hope—
a pale sketch
of hips that bend
and beckon
that's how her body
balances
when she's waiting
for eyes to land.

we used to seal
things shut
not just with tape
but trust
now it's snap-on lids
cling film
a love that runs
at the bends
everything has a pull tab
easy to open
meant to toss

even hearts
are shaped for
one serving microwaved
barely stirred

now we're compostable
biodegradable
emotionally disposable
and mostly unremarkable

but we are recyclable
so we can push
a partner
down a rock face
without remorse
or regret
for the environment