he wrapped his leather-clad and studded arm around you
the corner of his eyes crinkled like old newsprint
smelling of cigarettes and that musty bar Spider Bite rocked at
but the door slams behind him, following the trail of many others
the ash and must lingers in your red tinted butterfly hair
it's wisps curl around your hallow cheeks
butterfly kisses to red itchy eyes
i will comfort you, as the other times
boney shoulders shake and shiver in my arms
the same words will leave your cracked lips, again and again
barely audible over static Lingo on replay from your outdated tv
remember when you shuffled to his stoop
the chilly dead air whispering about the midnight strike?
with only a thin red blanket covered in calico down
tears streaming down your face you pounded fist against wooden door
till knuckles bruised black and blue; the door never opened
instead the police, flashing blood red and blue, took you home?
i remember
remember when time danced past
as you pushed those skeletal fingers into the phone
the same 7 digits searing your brain
becoming blurred under you ultra- violet stare
finally he picked up, a restraining order hot on his breath
you could only sob into the phone
i remember
remember when i was eight
the darkness covered you; yet another episode
you stared at me with black sunken eyes
"i don't even recognize you"
"i'm you goddaughter, salina?"
you continued to stare rocking back and forth, eyes dry and unmoving
i remember
