STILL LIFE WITH HANGOVER

the impossible maze

the mad bricklayer

the lost memory

the dust and the coughing

the imagined footsteps

the sleepless and the bitter

the chalk dust of every erased message

shifting back into words permanently placed

a duel of hurts. vile slam and shattering

a wrinkled dollar bill clutched too long

the name of a song wedged next to a stolen kiss

no climbing, no peeking over the other side

a torn napkin, scribbled equations in a forgotten geometry

thin black tar of regret. flesh trembling against rough brick.

an ear dreaming whispered forgiveness.

oh if only: one foothold.