for Coral Bracho
In increments enunciated (Oh) within
where the meanings (in increments) lie
bare (she says) (Oh, to her friend)
who is watching (I am watching) a cat slink
(while we walk) keeping pace with us
through the fenestrated walls (adobe) of
a ruined house (Oh, this finger) in the village
where she grew up (her accent
makes clear) This finger, she says,
delighted, holding it up,
has a heart in it! (Pulse.)
And thinking I don’t see (the friend), she
takes (from her purse) a toothpaste tube
(purse open) as she walks (we walk)
(where’s the cat?) along the dirt
road between (adobe) walls she
squeezes toothpaste
on her finger (with its heart) and smears
it (looking away) against her upper
and (still looking away) lower teeth
then touches me (with her breath)
