first

he used to lick the salt from her shoulders

now all he tastes are his own tears

blankets cover heavy, body like corpse

silence screams loud

he won’t sleep

crushed mango reminds him of her smile

fruit makes him cry

he prays/
swallows chilies whole to bring the heat to his throat

wishing his words were the butterflies in her chest

winter wind spits bitter

still

he envies the breeze that grazes her face

whispers words to the sky

wears scars like armour 

cracked and hard

skin so thick

he does not notice

when her lips touch his feet

s.s.