When breath, ragged
as a weeping incision—


When dark tendrils
through the light at your eyes—


When dawn's haze burns
off asphalt


—frozen grapes
rinsed in a shallow bowl

a skin of ice to pierce


alert the mouth: yes
the body remains

anchored through
foot & gut


the body
digs a deeper rut


When awake

walk to the sink
pour a thicker water,


swallow


anything
to blunt the day

after Despy Boutris