you said g'morning, kiss me softly

my neighbors, your ghost, and me...

the lovers next door are
locked out
i hear them laughing
looking for imaginary
keys

his hand rests
gentle
on her lower back
to steady her
over that step
the door’s edge

i remember them afterward
when i tempt sleep
to curl beside me
cat like
a warm figure
to fill the sheets
in your stead

where lips melt together
a shared heat
in arms and hands
in communal breath
when the width of your mattress
seemed the girth of
the world

the moon is full
on indian st.
testing her weight
her gravity
pushing our pillows
continents apart

sleep is late
for our appointment
and i’m a lover
locked out
having lost the keys