the tear
of the candle flame
sharpened
like a sable brush
pinched to a point
by the lips
of the sky
that refuses
to let it fall
the column
of its body
turns clear
before the soft chorus
of smoke
pulled
from its scorched
throat
leaves become
same colour
as the fire
that made them fall
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
your flame throws bird shadows
over the walls of my heart
that have never known sky
you’re the last light of the year
the late light of the day
that touches the old fire
that still clings to the tips of the trees
in my haunted park
star charts
blueprints
for starlings
sunlight and midnight
lines the inside
of our chests
daylight crashes
against the skylight
woodsmoke laces the air
with the cream
of its song
rings made from rainfall
the scars from our dreams
sew us together
snow leopard
born from a dead fire
after snow
sprinkled its spell
upon it
fur of flint
so cold
you don’t spark
the ghost of green
haunts your eyes
as you haunt the mountains
everything is ash
fire whispers to you
in your dreams
you haunt the mountains
of my mind
carry secrets through storms
piss upon rocks
the scent of smoke
no matter how long it takes
endure the cold stare of stars
find my fire
let us see green again
by looking into each other’s eyes
the poplars are still
silver shivers inside
ripples repeating themselves
within the pillars
of their trunks
where you try to excavate
your encrypted heart
I wanted to touch the scars
upon your clawed at chest
we breathe in
the dark of each other