It’s Been Years Since I’ve Been Yours

There’s a tusk-white dress

hanging by a thread,

tied up to the rafters,

waiting only for you.

Days

pour into glass,

stained the color of-

Wine

pours into glass

stained the color of-

Teeth

biting down on rotted memories.

I toss these summer fruits

down into the well

with a second thought.

Their sweating flesh &

too-ripe skin

wait to be pulled away

from the suck of blackened mud,

just in time for your return.

In the darkest corners of our home,

fantasies dance like melodies.

Gorgeous skeletons have come alive

in the shadows of the war.

The animals have all grown sick,

running across blanche keys

just as my phantom fingers

would dance across your ribs.

Then the paint starts to crack

and the flood sends me away~~~

I dream of a wedding

where fine-mesh clouds wrap my sullen face.

I pray in the silent procession,

swallowing the tears to come.

Silk sleeves fade in scattered sunbeams

like memories of you.

---

Note: I typically like to leave my poems’ inspirations ambiguous, especially the love poems. However, I’ll share that this one was written after watching the surreal Japanese horror movie, House, while on a flight. I wasn’t quite ready for it to leave my head.