8

after the last piece of crystal was fastened to the chandelier and it shivered resplendent over marble. a galaxy of glass trapping the light we smile in the quiet. dripping constellations shimmer we suffocate each other. fist away the little sweets. kill the timid whispers. you climb the winding stairs your hands caress the banister lacquered and cherry warm. i ask you to come back down but the prisms pull you up. methodical surgical you hack the wreath of glass rain of diamonds shatter. scissor through still air. nick my frills of flushed skin dribble face. and i instantly forgive. even eat in the broken crystals. so as not to leave a mess.

10

every day i
puncture the web
of flesh stretched
from thumb to fore
finger the wound
sneak a smirk
When we take our
evening strolls
on the beach, in
the park, we hold
hands.