[this is not a poem
sometimes we splay
but like deja said
splay with caution]

I kept the sunset to myself today
the coral coronets frozen
on a purpling horizon
the holiest strokes of genesis
and felt your hand
arched over mine on the brush
wanted to skate my breathless promise
of sunset over the glowing brick rooftops
of chicago, embers failing

in the fainting light
but would rather let you chill today
let whatever sickles i may have softened
with the fierceness of my light
mold themselves back into stone

i will let you turn in search of brighter suns
the cadences of more cherry laughs
a more potent spell than
my lips will ever conjure
my ribs have been too pliant

superlatives balm
on faithful cicatrices
and i languid trace
the veins of glass
spidering across
the smoky dome
of sky bleeding
the color of wrists
gold etchings mist
into nothing

and maybe this time
i will have the courage
to hurt