sparrow

"i love the way your mouth
looks when you say certain
words," she said, "like
'pavement' and 'sparrow.'"

2 crescent moon slivers of
light reflected in her raspberry
eyes from the lamp across
the room.

"what are you talking about?"
i said as i got up from the bed
and went over to the mirror.

i said the words 'pavement'
and 'sparrow' over and over,
watching my mouth form
them; watching my lower lip
move in that peculiar way
i guess she finds so cute.

"i'll never
understand you, baby,"
i said.

she just smiled
at me
and said:

"good."

–published in Newsletter Inago (March 2000)