To claim me.
I am trapped by exhaustion
inside the atmosphere
of a kiss
warm and liquid
a searching mouth
that maintains faith
in an inevitable surrender.

I am melting
into a furnace
of obscene
January sunlight,
watching droplets of my flesh
being skimmed
from the ceiling
for souvenirs.

There once was a time when
I would have objected
to the separation
of lips and skin,
But I have grown since then,
evaporated,
swallowed,
breathed.