O child I was sweetbad,something for the nerves,
dusks to gorge on, nightssticky as honey and rice,
catear pink, warm then hot,then hotter, moon shining
on moonshine, I was a clean pennyin the fountain for a dip, then running,
cheap pearls broken, bouncing fatlywith a twitchy rhythm, a little gleam
I never picked up, I loved losingbecause the city hydrants kept
my hands full, the fires rightwhere we wanted them, I was starlings
abruptly, then a half grin, half fullof reposado and burger drips,
bluntsmoke, blushing, baby’s breathcorsages, disallowed rooftops, analemma eyes,
I was kisses, sour candy, the good kindthey don’t have anymore—
Until?
—you,killer.