That night, I shed three tears
For the neighbor’s boy.
The nail polish chipped
the next day,
Deep red flakes scattered
across the bed.

He was made up of doors
like bricks.
Each one shattered as he shattered.
We sat together on the porch,
his chest
Heaving, back against the splinters.

A black eye as your father shook hands with my face.
I heard the contract in his fist;
Stay away at all costs, in exchange for life.
Get that gay sh-t out of my sight. All for a kiss.

There’s something about our place,
Sun-warmed and smelling
Of Orange-Glo cleaner. Your hands,
Down my throat, could touch
my soul. 

Someday, we’ll clean the dread from the rug,
The tears from the cracks
in the floor.
Maybe we’ll get married. Maybe we’ll be happy.

They’re lies both of us told, but neither could forgive.

I thought about what you had said,
The words in the glint in your eyes.
Write me farewell in the cigarette smoke.
I’ll sing it back, softly, softly.