Shadows under his eyes
And on his fingers
And in the corner of his brain

Umbra in her teeth
And in her dreams
And filling up the space between her ears
A reverse cerebral ghosttown

A licking flame, fire stroked by calloused hands
Smoked out thoughts, water-resistant lies
The waves lapped against the Sirens but they paid them no mind
For who wants to see themselves wearing away?

Parasites swarming lips
And legs and chests and heads
Dimpled scars from a grip too tight
And in the space between
A burial for what once was

Why do we speak if nobody listens?