[you with your paper cut smile]

met you walking on the terrace
exhaling ringlets of smoke into the
starless night

i was barefoot, feet black-bottomed
minus the arches
scuffing over bricks towards you

walking back and forth in my mind
tripping over misplaced words
in conversation,

that look right through me,
left wondering-
did i say that out loud?

pressing pause, lines through
faces and the story is muted,
posed players repeating candy lines-
too sweet

not as sweet as you,
i thought
[or said]
and you looked up and through me

a paper cut smile spreading,
curling your lips
and it is difficult to breathe