to AL and AL

    Say something else say
I decided to forgive us
    You, a text I entered—
Wearing your earring Wearing ugly birds
            Say birds
    Say I could not change you  Or wholly enter your mouth
Perfume and breathing
    Say I get nervous say
      I'd picture us together
It could have been better between us (I picture it)
    Reading together
          Twisting wet fingers in my mind
      Say birds around certain people Say
        I can be cold and weird like certain
Say Prince and dancing so drunk
    I'd think of you and want to be alone touching
Always in my mind that way  Van Morrison's little ballerina you
    I'd think of you and want to be touching but it's distant
      A distant wind field
You and me watching each other dance
    Say see? Say again in the shell in my mind, mine
      Never mine were you
In a private way, your husband's smile
    Sell me on it Sell me on you again Spin and Spin
      Bourbon down your rich chin
Cardboard with big teeth
    My hunger and your hunger
      In conversation
For him We do We will
    Have different mouths ok
          I get it
      You do not make me myself
Wearing your earring dancing
    I still search for the speaking tongue
      In my dream about you

Ashley Roach-Freiman is a librarian and poet with work appearing or forthcoming in Southern Women's Review, Bone Bouquet, THRUSH Poetry Journal, The Literary Review, Ghost Proposal, and Nightjar Review. A chapbook, Bright Along the Body, is available from Dancing Girl Press. She is currently working on a full-length collection. Find out more at ashleyroachfreiman.com.