She puts on a brave face.
It doesn’t fit.
But decorum—
Her cat was all skin and bones at the end. Flea-bitten.
“I didn’t know it was so bad.”
Of course not, child. Of course not.
But I’m no different. None of us are.
When the dry leaves of paper catch fire—
if their smoke pleases Rasheph—
mix their ashes with mine.
The past will find a reason
that you should stay the same,
regardless of your lover
and the sound of her new name.
Just lay down and relax.
Forget about your fingers
finding the stitches on her back.
The past will find a reason
as the entropy seeps in,
drawing you together
like the tonic and the gin.
Just breathe out, then breathe in.
Feel the heat leaving from your skin,
There’s no piece that you’ve forgotten,
Just lay down and let it settle in.
The past will find a reason
when it’s all settled in your mind
to tell you you’re mistaken
and there’s something else to find.