splinters

splinters

for all of the splinters i have
collector
for the way they all look in the light
like something quiet living under a membrane
for the way you forget them
in taking my hand
or the way that you play with them
when later you find them
for all of the uneven moments of skin
like visible freckles and invisible bites
that you or i pretend later
to notice for the first time

because there is a point
when there is nothing more to notice
and if you wrong me
it will be in the way that i knew you would
and i forgive you for the same reason,
that i know you and where this comes from

these drawn blinds are for the darkness
which would veil one you do not know
there is something sweet
in you turning from me like that
when you undress
and something sad
like you thought i wasn’t looking before

07-02-06
a. williams