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















