cold summer night

sucking the alcohol off the ice 

she said it’s taking 

a long time because 

of the path I’m on 

seeing a skyline’s necessary

for me to know I’m real

we swallowed the round slugs 

only a date could’ve gotten me

out of bed 

there is a place you can go

when your body’s sick with love

she said 

is your room still your room 

if you’re not in it? 

you have nice hands

like a man who doesn’t work 

I couldn’t place the accent

a muse must be somewhat dumb 

Araina wrote

in the dream last night 

my soles melted from my feet

a woman walked with her arms 

crossed against her chest

suddenly I felt the need 

to understand my life

to know what I was going to do 

how I was going to feel 

now that I had no family 

no career 

it saddened me a little

how little I had to say

don’t you believe in love

she asked

of course, I said

not listening 

as I listened once