words by dominic riccitello

i fade into thought
searching for touch in depth
twisting between
deep breaths,
hollow feelings,
darkness,
temptation and virtue

we spin in this
to transcend
i resist the excuse—
lies and emotion,
tempered vocals

i feel the hairs on your neck
pricks from my fingers
thorns in the cracks
darkened eaves—
i sense you reeling
do you feel it?

books on a shelf
dust at the tip of your mouth
you hold things close
yet too far to find—
depth in the middle of
how far you run,
how close you remain

we find ourselves in circles
revolving doors
learning to lean into what
hurts us most
this is how i exist—
this moment
is where i find me

learning beyond words
emotion and horror
texture
like napkins on my fingers
can you feel it?

i excuse your words
because time
has a funny way of holding:
the grasp,
the fingers,
the hold,
the interconnection

i find you in doorways—
revolving instead of growing

sometimes you exist in moments
some linger
a few move
but what i can’t understand
is how you move forward
yet fall backward

i feel you in past
i feel you in present
i feel you everywhere:
in the air,
in the eve,
in temptation,
in toxicity

words by dominic riccitello