jealous of the anonymous voice
on the other side of the telephone
of the sweet smooth wood singing
taut strings under deft fingers
of some bleak city still unmet
the one that holds new dreams
jealous of the ink and paper
mainlined and held close
of the teeth flashed smiling
and the soft swish of hair
of the passwords learned
the ones to guide new steps
jealous of the past
the sticky heat and burning cold
smeared with frosting
and devoured by rats
of knowing how to sing and move
of staying up and sleeping in
of some former life
one in which even doubt and fear
felt like petty distractions
mattress dungeon 