X.

when we met, i extended my hand
         but was met with an

                        intercom;
my voice shaking into your speaker,

          "it's a pleasure to meet you."

you grinned a garden of poppies, asked
           the purpose of my visit,
                   and my name
                     and i said

       "i need a place to stay."
            you said, i'll see what i can do.

                                        we chewed the fat and forgot formalities,

i studied
      the floors of your expression,
       saw no streaks in your windows, no

                  cavities
                           in your concrete teeth


i felt your walls for a fire alarm but
                                        found
                                 paintings
                                                                       and a home.


Y.

this morning, i wake
          haunted by the memory of the
                                                                   rattling,

                                        the moment when your bones
                                            gave way to the earth,
the moment
             the friction of its
                                               plates
                                       brought you
                         t
                          o
                          p
                         p

                        l
   
                         i

                     n
                         g,
      
and the moment i
              collected your rubble, and you

                                                    crumbled
                                                in parting


                                                               between my fingers