Breathe in the breath that can blacken mirrors,

dust scraped from a Missy Jane Chemistry

Set. The breath I feel on my wet fingers

as I slip in bed. Breath gone all glitzy

and thick in Waiting to Exhale, Whitney’s

last moan. Breath of pixies and junkies. Breath

that tastes like my cum; the one sick menses

that will never flow. You know it from Death

and the Maiden. You know it. “Breathe, damn you!”

you cried, pounding on my chest. Cracking bones.

Punctured lungs. Tell it to my pupilless

eyes. My blue hued flesh. That’s the breath so few

know. So few. Like you. Pity my swains, crones,

bloody gasps. Pity all who answered, “Yes.”