ours is a world of asphalt & magnetic letters & steely gray fluorescence liquor-stained vampire nights trembling in a flush of neon ours is a world lacking depth perception furred with the painful frost of morning in high heels & a skirt shivering in front of the hotel after a long drive you led me into the waiting room of your life the basement of a house where you sleep occasionally but aren't allowed to live it was still dark when we turned the light on & we slept on a paternal bed that lay low to the ground the cool sweep of your naked back & the crumple of clothes on an expressionless floor collected dust and blurry gray light as water ran into my mouth & ears we stared at each other & I decided: love is selfish it consumes what's inside leaving anorexic spaces in between each illuminated rib a world edged in between sundown & dawn