Faulting

by Nikki Harlin

The space between us
is short
winded.
A sticky breath
slow in the humidity
just before August
rain. I can't wait
for the slip any
longer than the stench
between Colton and Berdo.
I swore to exile you
from that freeway
after seeing you at the swap
meet. But there were strollers
and crosses everywhere
naked Barbies in piles of Vs
their eyes and teeth black out
with crayon
so I took it back
and planted it between the cracks
in an arid prayers plain
watched it shrivel in my palm.