I Left You Sleeping

When you could but be the death of me
stroke some parallel glancing blow
my invisible widow's peak crawl to the top
crawl, but still to the top

blood rage in the bruises on your knees
feeding frenzy fingers hunting for
fresh meat in the show
I left you sleeping
     I could not trust your consciousness

I felt up your leg in that closet in college
in Bartlette's bathroom entrenched by
a cocaine battalion of spitting king
cobras in push-up bras and bastard
genetics, in love with you

scratching at your swollen tongue with
my teeth
moldy shower curtain bonnet
saffron gown hugging those brittle
bones in your ankles

redwood ghosts followed you back
to the campfire road rash'd
wet with wine
your pale moon silhouette swaying in repose
in rapture enfolded displayed against
a colossal column of climbing bark
another lover's name scratched
into the wood,
not your name.

TA