the Smiths v. Dorian Gray: 1/0 year/s later

note: an earlier version of this poem appeared here.

n() l()nger

no
longer
raining
and
Gray
out
side

or
the
thorn
side
boy
at
the
door
.
no
longer
the poorly
lit living room
of cotton and Oscar
Wilde. no longer insomnia
mourning and morning. no longer
i still recall: the fleeting feeling
of fleeing interrupted by
the metallic click
of space
heaters
.
no
longer

those
empty
days
and
the
Siren
siphon
of
night.