i write love poems to no one when
my mouth tastes dry and brittle like words
that accidentally slipped past my teeth
as truth i never intended to voice.

and days later i cry myself awake
with the lingering sense of silence lodged
in the back of my throat
before i remember that i've run all out
of secrets to keep. and there's nothing here

but an empty shell
of everything i never wanted you
to see.