puts on its dusky coat 

            as if it’s leaving

and all bedroom lamps

            outraged 

spring into action 

            coax intimacy 

from dimmed light

            I follow its scent 

to a dead end

            hold myself 

beneath the covers

            where old whispers 

linger

            like cigarette smoke

watch it unspool

            over our turquoise blanket

then narrow

            into thin wires

that I carry 

            to my sink and floss with

remove the plaque

            blood flooding 

my gums the taste 

            of tomorrow’s uncloaking

metallic 

            in my mouth