for my lady with the silky night words.

eating alone at the table behind

my friend there, he sits

with an invisible glow

hot on his face

hot from the laptop desktop

hot, it's hot today, 

it's hot.

orange stains under your nails

orange oils sprayed across your skin

orange you smell 

orange you eat

cold on a fake summer day

his warm hot mouth reserved

only for lunch and

silence at his table

behind my friend and me

next to a barred emergency door

no windows, no light

no fork clinking on his china plate

your hero is so quiet

but his voice is

(when he speaks)

the orange you eat,

the orange you smell

on paper

in air

can you breathe for me?

through his mouth

smoking with words

through his hand

that holds you

by your neck so stiff

tracing your ribs 

your ribs trying tried

to protect your heart

your heart

your heart

can you breathe for me?

the way the

the way the hamlet slowly dies

the way new hamlets slowly rise

ophelia, whatever happened

to that cross you wore?

and wherefore 

that love you bore?

could he have you 

given much more?

only this, and nothing more,

merely this and nothing more:

nevermore, nevermore,

my dear lenore!