You went south
and I was ugly once more
rotting cabbage, blue-green and untouchable
Eighteen hours between us
no longer close-up,
no longer like the back of my hand
The feted salted-caramel-mocha-frapuccino
this I knew
you loved me, you loved coffee, and you hated the Virginia heat
But I don’t satisfy seven states away
you drink chai now
melting like butter in Richmond, right into her arms
And I still burn my tongue every morning
common grounds brewed and bitter,
my lips sting and my eyes water