Dancing Paper Dolls

remember the way your black lipstick flowed like molten night
down that silky-smooth neck – and the silver wires suspend
almost like a carousel dream, the dancing paper dolls and
wretched metal puppets. mouths curled 'O' in beautiful surprise,
we don't know, but we can guess. this handcuffed helplessness-

i watch the
plastic
diamonds
bleed
right through the carpets

as your perfect blue cloth sky tears down the middle,
frayed veins tangled near; green vines strangled far too long –
splayed out on the stiff bedspread. it's (im)possible to capture
the dreams floating around above your head. just try,
and if you fail i will catch you. (i really will.)

plastic roses have no scent
no scent
of your
sweet
pain.

it's only a silver afterthought,
it's only a white paper moon,
it's only the yellow fireflies,
it's only the blue blue world,

it's only us.