after midnight.

poor, sad boy.
poor, sad boy, curly hair and
you can’t talk straight,
you can’t walk straight, white hands fluttering,
folding like paper flowers after midnight,
magnolias on their trees.

poor, strong boy,
dark hair and long words.
rubbing eyelashes into your cheeks
(my symbol of longevity),
watching the curve of your spine,
poor, strong boy.

poor, strong boy,
arms like steel and the wide green sea –
wine-dark, but nonetheless beautiful.

poor, sad boy, purple and green
like a bruise and the marks of hands upon your body,
purple and green, blue and the colors of long days of sadness.

poor, sad boy,
ripping you apart with my teeth,
white hands folding like origami flowers in the rain,
origami flowers opening to the sun, sadness and wilted paper.