heat begins on bones
beneath the cheeks

dust flies & glitters
in yellow light
over radiators

quarter to five
still white sky
branches like night

and lower air
tastes just this side of snow

red ridge
cold curve
the end of ear

against my winter
-roughed lips

and winter
-warm breath

soft moans, louder talk
two eggcream walls
do nothing to disrupt

like traffic
whispers & double
-paned window
still streaked
with vinegar