A Poetry Series: Background Noise III

The Anatomy of Longing
by Ariel Sullivan

All carnal all
       atlas skin
              with spine serrated     
a metal skeleton
       so close you
              could pare voltage flesh
in my mind
       I break thirst
              without mouthfuls of brine
your hands
       coffee
              there are hours
in the small
       of your back
              when I breathe
from my rib cage
       only moss
              in my lungs
I dreamt
       seaside
              mint mosaic
smoke bright
       your marble eyes
              unfolding
you won’t say it
       your voice
              gunpowder
where skin meets
       this small complexion
              the body tropic
a beauty mark
       then
              the temperature
of aftertaste