like symbiotic vampires
each feeds on the other’s hopes
until only fragments remain
to stake their hearts upon
he mouths bloodied words
past his newly broken jaw
inarticulate bones clatter
like dice in a hollow box
she laughs on the chance
what he says is not serious
she picks up a cracked tooth
and hands it back to him
they sit and wait for the ball
to fall like blood from a wound
(October 2012)
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