to be kept ever close

5. crush

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i collect faces my fingers traced

like milk teeth memories in the small box

underneath my pillow

in sleepless nights i count them

put them back into my mouth

try to rearrange them into the places

they once fit into but

there is no room anymore

when i bit down on them too hard

they broke and the teeth that grew back

afterwards are stronger

do you feel the difference

when i'm biting down on your lip

once again for old times sake

4. strange behavior

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you stopped staring at my lips

when i spoke

that's how i knew

you were not in love with me anymore

3. limbs

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i have not been feeling too well

like a ghost

or phantom rather

i can't feel my left arm

most of the time

(two toes not at all)

i can lift and move it

but the warmth at the end

of my fingertips when

i touch your cheek

is missing

(or just gone)

phantom numbness

2. a separation

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the alarm clock digits change to zero

and he squeezes his eyes shut

that is how you wish for something

time is not a good method of separation

before and after midnight

when i opened my eyes

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copper cascades

flowers grow from

under her fingernails

pastel silks and blushing cheeks

she shimmers golden dusty rose

(in cursive) looking at you pushes me

to the verge of blindness

i can't keep my eyes open