When the elbow sinks
in + the muscle releases

its grip.

When the radiators begin
to hiss on an early January

morning in Minnesota.

When the unleashed
dog smiles back +

anger leaves your body
for even one breath. When you

touch the contours
of my face. When you tell me

I could become
a real girl.

When the wings we grew
together under the cold gleam

of a full winter
moon finally lift us up

and out.