freckles

she asked to be reminded she is

alive and I asked

if she had tried curling up

in the curve of someone’s arm

recently and getting to know

for the first time their freckles


did you know people have freckles

inside their eyes?

I found that out on the fifth night


have your feet felt the hot tar

of the summer road recently

and when was the last time you remembered

to breath as if the cells in your lungs

just emerged from the vortex of a wave 

gasping for air?