i miss something

that we never had,
matching watches, morning tea
on a wooden tray, strewn blossoms
messy hair, tv turned down low
we giggle at cartoons
we smudge the circle of heaven
between us, like black charcoal
like eye shadow and bruises
i give you
twelve of everything
march around the room
ready for invisible battles
clacking against your heart
my hand shivers
glows

in the green minutes
my hair gone straight i simmer
your silence
your scent into soup
licking the spoon

that never solves the hunger problem
deep in the pit
of my plenty

courageous and drumming
pounding feet on sand, running
from the things we hate
smiling at jellyfish in the
silver skinned pacific
we share like a secret

i show you flashlight dreams on the
wall as you try to sleep
vanish in the 3 a.m. blush and fog
like lipstick faded from
fiery lips kissed into colorlessness

campfire stories, terrible colds
nestled in two tons of comfort
some september sunday
greedy for the fluid motion
of july burned into falling sparks
and juicy words that danced
on glass, bounced like hail
on the sidewalk

and swung like a lunchbox
at the end of my little girl

arm.