gold now
& place myself between the punctuation
been swallowing your likeness back down my throat
since the witches' new year,
afraid to choke on it
but it was my own likeness got stuck in my throat
paint for the ticket and ride the dog south
arriving with palm at my neck to catch hangman's rope
asked me to stay the night
it's cold, you said, but I know your blood is hot
where did your shame go?
shoes on & waiting by the back door
a body knows the routine
by now
