His soft gestures
of seduction fell
unnoticed, or, at best,
unremarked, saving
him from himself
through his awkward starts
and vague stutters.
From fear or prudence,
he let go of what
he never had. He now
brings a dull clarity
to how he wants to
remember that moment’s
infatuation– the seven
year obsession still
whispering in his ear
like the slow pulse
and flicker that remains
the next morning
from last night’s fire.
(February 3, 2017)
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