Behind the Teeth

Open the bottle
you keep next to your pillow,
unsheathe the memories
behind your teeth;
where your tongue lays hidden
amidst the sound, listening.
Tear pieces off around the edges,
and speak their names to the dark.

Knowing all along you won't bring them back
with incantations under your breath.
Rearranging shapes to initial their names,
and pulling at space to envision the faces
you remember
made you smile.

Stand in the shower,
come down off your mixture,
and hope the sun's followed
when you step out.
So, there's nothing to keep
your head from the sheets
as you bury it beneath
and speak their names to the dark.
Dreaming of places afar.
Dreaming… always dreaming.

All along knowing it won't bring them back.
Rearranging shapes to initial their names,
and carving up space to envision the faces
you remember
made you smile.

And speak their names… to the dark

Dreaming…
always dreaming
of a face on a crowded city street,
a voice above all the screams.