Mother Dreams in Half-light

O child I was sweetbad,
something for the nerves,

dusks to gorge on, nights
sticky as honey and rice,

catear pink, warm then hot,
then hotter, moon shining

on moonshine, I was a clean penny
in the fountain for a dip, then running,

cheap pearls broken, bouncing fatly
with a twitchy rhythm, a little gleam

I never picked up, I loved losing
because the city hydrants kept

my hands full, the fires right
where we wanted them, I was starlings

abruptly, then a half grin, half full
of reposado and burger drips,

bluntsmoke, blushing, baby’s breath
corsages, disallowed rooftops, analemma eyes,

I was kisses, sour candy, the good kind
they don’t have anymore—

Until?

—you,
killer.