Privation

In that chilly apartment
the cat found the warmest spot
on top of the refrigerator

the refrigerator would cycle off
with a violent shiver
the cat’s tail would twitch

in the silence that followed
we would lower our voices
& move closer together

the walls were thin as takeout menus
the ceiling had a stain
in the shape of Antarctica

we each had bruises
on our hips from
the other’s hipbones.

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