dreams bleed and blaze

the way memories do

these past few days

memo- dreams of sweat

and coffee-stained

sunsets;

layered thick,

strung together,

forming stratas

of cigarette smoke

which hangs over me

and blankets

tarred stars twinkling

against nicotined

ceilings

eyes wake,

mirror open windows,

and curtains blink

with cold winds

ushering out that

cloudy billow

I claw,

dig my nails onto

their shapeless shape,

trying not to forget

how to remember

before they leave

and I'm left

with the wrinkles

rippling across bedsheets,

which'll mirror the tallies

on my skin

one blink,

reminding me I'm older

than I'll believe I am