I cannot
Polish another person's skin
I'd like to
I've tried

I remember
When I asked if there was enough to be shared
She greedily looked at me as if to say
Not in this lifetime

I let it go at that
As I sometimes do

She gobbled three
He passed

I remember the night my aunt was hungry
And didn't have money to pay even half of the electricity

I walked up and down the street letting the
Night air cool me as if it could
Words strung like cheap pearls

Stinging renditions of hearts and souls
Tarnished with a resin coating
Tonight or last night it rained