after watching Fassbinder's LOVE IS COLDER THAN DEATH

She warmed my hands on the beach. I was twelve and delirious.
My fingers were purple. I thought my blood had dried up.

In the tent we fed our pet mosquitos. It rained.

She took off her clothes and lay face down on top of the sheet.
This was at her best friend's house, after a party.

We went shopping for cleaning supplies, used appliances, whiskey,
and maraschino cherries. At the checkout we felt ashamed.

The birds look at all this and we just watch the sky
Isn't it funny? Blank, and today grey

In the hotel room by the tar pits I read about cross-border abortions
At the checkout: CASH ONLY

The last night, we pushed the beds apart

Our pursuer, the pupil in the rear-view mirror, expanding