this is how we talk

This is winter in Kingston and this

Is how we talk. Through blood

as wallpaper scattered

Across the ceilings, numb

To the ache of each other’s hearts.

Empty words and swollen actions,

With bright smiles and clenched teeth

Because this is winter in Kingston

And this is how we talk. With screams

And tornadoes of objects and GTA

As a peanut gallery

With missing teeth and a knife

Through the hand because this

Is winter in Kingston and this

Is how we talk. With velvet sweet lies

And promises of sobriety

With covering our tracks so DHS won’t know

With panting breaths and tears as lost as our hope

This is how we talk because it is winter in Kingston.