These Lines
by Heather Bartlett
are not linear look:
this line is where you come out
this line is also tomorrow
tomorrow is also the girl
from yesterday
this is what she says:
your memories are also
my memories wrapped
in silk and sewn
into the seams remember
bare legs black lace this
is what boys like: stay
still breathe in
like you need
lifting like you are
too much smoke
and not enough this
is what you get: the boy
slides closer he always
slides the girl
from yesterday makes
eye contact breaks
contact look:
your finger is on the zipper
instead of the collar
instead of the bone
this is what you get:
stay still breathe in like
you are too much this
is what she says:
these lines are also
my body your body
is also on fire