we held the rain long past its fall
tore the fabric from where it clung to skin
for all the fragility we relinquished
withdrawal was the howling call within
yet in cleanliness the shame burned vividly
every intoxication swallowed without hesitation
every drop of blood and vice
deeper than the pull of muscle memory
we’re still grinding down teeth well past the root
scraping at the edges of empty plates
bladed remarks dragged out like spit strands
dwindling friends down to uninvited guests
/// 