I won’t easily forget that long purple skirt
When faces detach from names
And knuckles whiten with frustration
Blood hope
Spittle orange
please
I will forget her name
As relationships slide in and out of focus
And colors fade from view
Quivering blanket
Denial river
please
I will remember that blemish on her ribcage
Where lips lingered beyond remembering
When time stretched out its arms forever
Grant me this
(2016)