she speaks in riddles sometimes
a smile longing sideways
words slipping past her teeth
like marbles she slips under my tongue
when she kisses me
my tongue-and-cheek girlfriend
laughs lodged in her dimples
truths tucked
under her winks and shoulder shrugs
she tells me love
isn't something to shout about
just something to chew slowly
kinda like sour bubblegum
you're addicted and can let go

and i believe her
even when she calls me a poet
kinda like and a dare
more than a compliment
but i don't care
she's my favorite sour bubblegum

💭

some things don't ask for permission
kinda like the way i sprinkle salt
on a slice of apple
and call it perfect
it tickles the tongue
wakes up some sweetness
like a small tug-of-war
my grandfather does it too
he always knows
what the heart wants
before the mouth does
people ask why
and i laugh
because they've never tasted
how memories and hunger
can meet in one bite

💭

a guitar riff
sharp gift
a lift in the air like heat off chrome
no frosting or crumbling crumbs
just wrapped tight in six strings and spite
cake can't grind bone
cake can't moan like when i bend the blues
cake can wait when the riff takes
sudden
rude
crude
and
****
a sound without words
a noise that flirts with my beast
call it rock solid
call it a roll in the hay
it's better than cake

💭