Upside down I show her
how to load the film but
we didn’t realize the lead slipped
we went around
the dark tongue fluttering
on closed lips
shutters firing into
shop windows
cap guns at strangers
point blank
empty firecrackers set off
in the mall
for children to play in
with their teddy bears and magic wands
bold with silver we cast shadows
of the world onto our palms
we’ll keep them
safe in the teeth like religion
like prophets
lying them perfectly under
our pillows
cave mushrooms
someday to be savored
a while in the light

and her film lapping the spool
fire burning the
white heat of everything
into its only square
pressing blindness
on its crackling walls
a pile of ash

one thing we didn’t miss
was the sign chalked white on
the tunnel –

‘WILL THEY SHOOT
YOU NEXT?’

she nudged, ‘go ahead.
you saw it first.’
I didn’t
but we both agree
and I take the words
under my breath
carry them out in
the box two handed
holding it closed
until the time comes