the man shares my

blood and his words

are so incomprehensible

it burns my ears and my tongue

weighs down my sticky throat

to my glitter beige toes until

i myself fall through three floors

and out into the gritty blue world.

i can still see your silhouette

against the lone frame of the awendaw

moon. even your veins have turned

paper mache and there's an ache

in my skull like you left fingerprints

all over my face and kept me from speaking.

are you still taking your medication

because last time i saw your face

you asked me whether i wished i was choking