I put the pillow

against the part
no man knows how
to consistently touch

I toss and turn
until the next
October

I count the leaves
that fall off the tree
of your back

and I string them
along the lifeline
of my heart attacks

and I whisper to you
when you hopscotch
through the middle
of my night

I am the one who
tells all the bugs
where to bite

you and I
rock
paper
scissors
about who gets
the knot
around the neck

and I cuddle the
rope that you left