all i remember is icy fingers of ecstasy
crawling in my head
a black and white instance of a warm, moist summer
in a forgotten bubble of childhood memories
through impossibly long, sepia-tinted spaces
where every stain and knot was an aberration
and hot drafts made curtains
stand on end
...
waiting for release
...
and exhale.

where closets float over wooden floors
and private thoughts smelled of mothballs.
where dreams fit into a hat boxes,
and secrets lay in faded snapshots -
dark smiles, stained through and sinister

i thought there would be time
between the second and third crow -
beyond the immortality of youth

past the moment where golden locks
and sweet smiles change the world
where all things broken are repaired

"Consequences? To the devil with your consequences," Dr G exclaimed, throwing a large casting flask against the laboratory wall. "All of these flasks are too small! Order me the 4.5 inchers -- No, wait... five inch flasks! By the gods I shall have five inchers and utilize every shred of casting space!"

"Well, what are you waiting for?" he asked, turning and glaring at his assistant.

"Heaven help us," replied his assistant, bowing in acknowledgment and slinking away.

Tweebly and Titmouse came to a stop in front of Titmouse's apartment, Tweebly flexed his muscular tube body more than was necessary as he was setting down Titmouse's bag of groceries.

"So are you still seeing Dustbunny?" he asked.

"It's not really like that," she said, grabbing her groceries, turning and running up the stairs. "Um, thanks for carrying my stuff."

"Maybe I'll see you next week at the gym?"

Titmouse mumbled something as she was closing the door.

Titmouse worked desperately to flatten her tuft, as a smooth head was all the fashion. Regardless of how hard her wings and and feet smoothed down her stubborn head feathers, they refused to lie obediently -- they sprang back to their original shape as soon as she moved her wing.

"This will never work," she said, looking into the mirror. She covered her beak with her wings and began to cry softly.

When she looked back into the mirror, Dustbunny was standing behind her.

Dustbunny scooped up a large glob of feather goop from the dresser. Working slowly from behind, he built up Titmouse's head feathers into the tallest crest she had ever seen.

it was a day of hanging out and old buildings
of trench coats and damp red bricks
of friends being happier than circumstances would dictate
of spiral staircases
of exploring the colorful gaps in reality
and the frayed edges or preconception

of redefining spaces
matter
power
talent
and those cast aside as worthless.

As Titmouse and Dustbunny were looking up at the nighttime sky, the Moon flickered. Once. Twice. And then disappeared.

"Oh dear," said Titmouse.

Dustbunny smiled. "This is your first time, isn't it? Don't worry, it will come back on in a bit."

"My stomach hurts, and I've lost my bag of seeds," Titmouse blurted out, then realized that Dustbunny was about to speak, "I'm sorry, what did you want to tell me?"

Dustbunny held Titmouse's head between his palm and his cheek, "Nevermind," he said.

There will always be creatures scurrying into the shadows when i let archie out to pee at night.

Ogres lurking behind the half opened door and peeking around bushes. Big-thighed demons jumping rooftop to rooftop. Impossibly strong, soul-less creatures.

Counting time. Waiting for the perfect opportunity.