bit

Even though
it is black

licorice
is a purple word

sedulous is green

and so on

They roll around
in the warm jar
of a mouth

Licorice
means frozen drunk
and
gentle clinks of glass beads

skimming

lengths

of taut wire


Toile is yellow and sore

an old bruise

A mouth Os open
to say it

(yawning black cave)

Toile ends only
when the tongue retracts
to its hole

Sky is open too
and white:

the rippling scrim
of staring
and sleep

the backdrop
to it all


Smaller bits
are easier


Once more: Lick

or

ice clicks and

the jar

shivers

and cracks

with the weight