Detritus

‍

In the kitchen I sweep sunlight  

from corners, and drain the room –

a monochrome peacock’s quest 

for color.  Daily baking, sublime 

‍

then burnt in the unattended oven.

You cast off your bracelets 

‍

on the bureau, scrapped them

as a calcified farewell.  When love 

brimmed, we ran untamed.  Spoke 

only present tense, committed 

‍

with no sunrise to span. 

Clatter in recurring surf, 

‍

flushed over sand, each shell

ingests crushed debris 

and grit to regenerate 

its façade, rims expanding

‍

with each tide – void of glamour.

All done beneath lost currents,

‍

the scan of beach rubble

boring like table crumbs.  Dismissed 

pleas, leakage from dreams – charms 

we live for.  All traps from which 

‍

escape must be wagered 

alone.

‍

Last Dance

‍

Scream beneath bloody sunset,

as Munch on his lurch atop the colonnade.

‍

My arms grope and grasp. Choke and gasp 

as I swill remains of merlot to drown our last dance 

‍

when the wraith cut in.  Distance between us 

and petitions repeat: case study, 

‍

Rorschach, valentines.  Solitary lunch across 

from your empty black chair.  With goblet salute, 

‍

a toast to pacts and pieces.  Everlasting lust, 

whiff of musk.  Wintering, summering – 

‍

my rhythms uncontrolled as clouds wayfare – 

crystalized to collaborate jeopardy.

‍

I light the candle.  Rock vacant cradle.  

Much poorly timed; sweet spice, bleak hospice.  

‍

Many ways the body burns.  Self-medicates.  

Simmer and savor.  Inhale-exhale butts into the dream.

‍