I.
indiana winters are cold and dead
just like home; the mouth of a shark
just like home; a clammy hand
choking the air from your lungs
indiana winters remind me of my childhood home
and the only thing tethering me to this place
is your warm lips and a packet of hot hands
my coach keeps in his passenger glove compartment
my room always between 50 degrees and 70
but even on the mornings when it's barely 51
your hands, warm, on my hands
and suddenly it's too hot to keep this hoodie on
i never knew you could be hungry for
the feel of someone's skin or
the way they smell and
i never thought i'd be this hungry
for the way someone's lips taste
i guess it's just these indiana winters
and you; a warm coat
a pair of thick wool mittens
and a mug of hot chocolate

II.
whatever souls are made of
his and mine are the same
the mosaics that make him up
fit like puzzle pieces into mine
whatever souls are made of
his and mine are the same

III.
you could drown in those eyes
and never come up for air
because your body forgets it even needs air
your lips too busy learning about his
to bother with something as trivial as oxygen
i've drowned on dry land before
but never as beautifully as this
someone tell the ocean she's no longer
the only one who can make even suffocation beautiful
someone tell the ocean about his sea-glass eyes
and my shipwreck lungs drowning
slowly
slowly
slowly
in the loveliest way

IV.
your voice sounds like my favorite poem
from a poet that hasn't been born yet
and your hands feel like my favorite t-shirt
fitting into mine pretty perfect

V.
i stole your library book
and i listen to your music
because you are art
and i want to understand you

VI.
your breath, warm
against my lips is my favorite poem,
but the poet hasn't been born yet
when i'm older and so are you
i will wake up to your honey-sweet voice
unless its me waking you up
with my carmax lips and messy hair
but for now i will sneak you kisses in the snow
with my back up against the garage door
and yours to the recycling bins
smiling against your lips
catching my breath and
falling in love with being alive
the world is beautiful when i'm with you