"(this is what I think of when I looked past) Your Shell"

blue
crystalline
vapor trails
of songs and sharp edges
from old words
that once cut deep and hurt our
souls

old leaves that scratch the
front steps in beautiful oranges and reds that we
never see too perfectly in photographs.

but when they're
in our palms
we see true beauty in life

the tiny veins
the discoloration and reinitiation.

the peacefulness in slumber under 7 heavy blankets.

warm liquids
are always spinning around us
"life juice"
this blood
this water
this seed
this egg

how you expel it is not always how you intended, yes, I know

it's how you think when you're
moving.

it's what you eat when you're really
thirsty.

when you're leaning on frosty windows.

you've been
cold for
too long.

you've been
dragging leather leashes for so long,
your flesh calloused,
it's your new armor.

tears.
dust.

exhaling dust from the lungs
and ash from our shoulders.
we push dry leaves aside
and skip together on seemingly clean pavement.