The plate left fingertips months ago.
A moth beat its wings against window screen hours ago.
Seconds ago shower and towel whipped cat
after buffing skin until it reddened.
Weeks ago breaking codeine to sniff
just in case it could increase or break affect.
Seconds after toe nail clipping.
Spit splashing in the sink paste white
three days hours baskets full.
Twenty cigarette buts put out,
fished from stashes found snooped
neighbors watched making conversation.
Wreaths burned and pines too
in a fire two years gone and retinas on.
Eyelashes trained individually
each half minute, staring into the vanity mirror, tweezing.
Each week caressing my throat and
by the three thousandth mile on the seventh second
motion sickness starts to set.
Car door slams and stretch into a yawn
five days ago.
Change your shirt and reach into a closet full of ammunition
ten years old.
Fourteen days ago the mirror said "no" flatly.
Twelve hours before waking gasp.
Paint each fingernail in cross thatch blue
with perfect symmetry tomorrow
sleeping one hand out to dry in the a/c breeze.
Feet still on the fire escape to catch morning rays
before pictures
hours before decent and all hell breaks loose,
clutching firing explosive bolts
"where is the counter?"
Everything that should be marble
for a split of a split of a split second
is stone. Months ago.
All coming to a halt,
the plate breaks
in an odd number of triangles.
Do not mind
the fine grade
of the shards;
that no one will clean between your toes with tongue.
