“The Last Time I Saw You”
Turning a corner, the train whistle blew
down the drain, rupturing our fluids
the night when your body relaxed
without you, fish
swam through my hands
the blue dishwasher bleached a pellet
in the dark of the kitchen,
our lips chapped,
our skin crumbling to waxy tissue
it was the last time I saw you
in the house of broken windows
of folded petals
of folded grasshopper wings
where these thistles rasped your throat
to desire a summer long ago
when we both lost our bathing suits
and split down to the rope
on the swing above
the slapping of the waves
riding your bike backwards
we’re friends for pain
the locker room killers
don’t let the mirror drop
don’t let this dinner end
please put away the props
shield me from your dressing gowns
and chain my heart.
nicholauspatnaude 