leave me exit wounds

leave me exit wounds

you know, 

the stones you gave me

are still in my pockets, 

their dirt licking

my palms. 

leaving bruises, 

ugly purple nothings

I press

if only to remember.

and oh, 

the sun is out today,

like it hasn't been 

in a while. 

I didn't notice it had gone

until it crept in 

to warm my brow. 

you know,

I awoke 

this morning

deaf to the promises

of last night, 

that old, bitter flavor

coating my teeth--

how I wish it'd take form, 

salty pebbles upon pebbles, 

liquid smooth, 

so we'd have a reason

to walk down 

to the river,

skip our troubles 

down the waiting shore. 

but 

where can I put it down? 

not now, 

in the intimacy 

of this shared silence--

golden-rimmed nostalgia

I cup to my lips, 

not daring to taste, 

to swallow. 

for now  

I will down my drink, 

chewing on the ice

before it starts 

to sweat--

and how they strain, 

how they bite me back.