the highlight of the floor-to-ceiling window leaks through
my hands feel the walls and know what’s out there
running my fingers over the slits of light
the vinyl shutters block 99% of light but the cracks let in 100%
i’m brushing my teeth slowly, repetitively
feeling the poke of every single bristle
the gentle pressure on my teeth might make them cave backwards into my skull
he comes to hug, and hold me, so i don’t faint
and only then do i realize
i’ve eroded a trail across my canines
i sink so low into bed, i become the bed
so i write a poem