Limes

You’ve marked my memory here

like dogs

in family photos

milestones

my eyes greyed

feet callused  

you have occupied

the loneliest corners 

of my attic

memory foam 

stains in nylon

between my toes

where I go to escape myself

jazz in your smile

nina simone comes to mind 

demanding grit,

musk,

surrender.

you have never made me laugh.

According to leah and morgan,

you have never made them laugh either. 

I show up a child

they funnel me

cherry coke

red wine

limes

listening ears

I have disguised myself

as someone you could love.

you witnessed my ripe

uncertainty, used your hands

to tell me what words couldn’t

I never could decipher

what you were writing on my skin

when you chose to

touch me. Hardly sober

I was only palatable 

when you had something

to blame your affection on.