—HAD TO KNOCK BACK A FEW TO FEEL NORMAL

  

Up on the Roof

 

She kisses me open-mouthed

a rush of hot air or spiced stew 

and says Do you remember 

when tattoos were dangerous and 

beer was like super cheap? 

It’s near midnight and we’re

sitting on the spine of the roof  

though it might as well 

be the moon or a lucky star. 

I kiss her like I mean it 

my entire soul moving through me 

into her like a genie or shapeshifter 

when she says, Whoa Sparky, 

I think you might really love me. 

A week from now she’ll be gone 

and so will every galaxy

but I’ll be up on the roof  

making my mouth move without speaking

like a mime stuck inside a cage 

looking for the key