Kite Strings

Bare feet on shattered glass forgiven,
no blood spilled,
cold waves reaching to hold yesterday's landscape,
nothing looks the same
leaves of bronze and gold mimic
the dying glow of day's end.
We race against the wind,
cotton slapping skin
until we send our shirts to the skies,
pulled tight with spare bones and driftwood.
We floss our teeth with kite strings
and kiss into knots.
Tangled lines and miscommunication
face-down on the ground muttering
"I'm Not Good Enough."
All I can do is hold numb fingers
and tell you how much I love you
with the clenching of a fist,
the actual words are stuck in my throat
tongue-tied and I wish
it was tied up with yours.
We can blame the salt on our cheeks on the sea breeze.
Beneath our feet,
shifting with the whims of the wind
unrecognizable tomorrow
...you claim you've changed.

Kite strings like fish wire,
gutted and hung out to dry after we clash midair
you blame it on your father
and I ask to go home just because I want you
to ask me to stay.
Soles of our shoes worn through
slapping on pavement,
kisses like catfights.
Desperate to bring feeling
to cold fingers,
there's a fine line
between bruised and broken.
I asked for disaster,
little red string twisted around knuckles,
I don't ever remember tender flesh
taking me somewhere better before.

Kites crash
with knots leading you into a labyrinth
you have to fix it,
fix it.
Hair tangled like kite strings
you twist your fingers in.
Gums bleeding
Bare feet
The wind carries me.