my hand a sparrow
dreaming in the bowl
of your palm
fairy lights flickered
when no one was watching
woodsmoke curled to sleep
in the grass
share the snowfall
from a streetlight with you
shoulders dusted with shine
pirouette upon rusted blades
across scorched streets
dissolve into the spray
of their own sparks
rust and ash
pollen and snow
replaced my heartbeat
with the syllables of your name
smoke splices its tongue
more surface area
to taste the dark
miss the sea glass
crumbling sunlight
in your eyes
knowing fire
through the smoke
of your songs
the tantrums
of your tenderness
how your steps
slowed
to match mine
curtains wait for a breeze
so they can breathe again
my favourite bit
when you appeared
around the bend
at the end of my street
come to meet me
the ghost of gold
on an autumn night
stitched together
with neon thread
your black dress
splashed by the sirens
from the cries of the city
your red heels
sparked the sealskin
of the pavement
drains choked with fire
words brighter
than the paper
they scar
you speak in song
sing to the robin
about how your heart
rusted red
stilled by all the sunlight
held in your skin
a cobweb of strings
poured from the cross
that control our limbs
is love
the performers
performing for themselves
a slow show
once the wings
of the main show
packed away
instruments played gentle
as injuries