It seems we’ve left skin
in each other’s lungs. I should have
looked under your bed skirt
for my wallet, but how
could credit cards compare
to the sneeze after we’ve parted?
Gone and still you make me
reach for a tissue—still my palms
turn circles in the red
breakwater of your heartbeat.
I want to tell you, I have nothing
but respect for your ribcage
now that we both know
it’s not big enough to hold us.
Michael Meyerhofer’s second book, Blue Collar Eulogies, was published by Steel Toe Books. His first, Leaving Iowa won the Liam Rector First Book Award. For more info, check out www.troublewithhammers.com.
Poet’s Recommendations:
Far from Algiers by Djelloul Marbrook.
Velocities by Stephen Dobyns.
Facts About the Moon by Dorianne Laux.
Homepage photo via Flickr by Dj Poblete