the bowls are the color of bone & the bone is shaped like an egg. To make the bowl you must break the shell.

My mouth is a bowl: shell & yolk, egg cream, water glossed. I know the difference between full & filled.

This heart is a mouth. It only looks like heart. A heart is the color of cupcakes & that color is many colored.

A candle makes a heart-heat. A candle gilds what shines. Put this light behind you. I see through the skin.

I’ll bring you the skin of a heart with a candle inside to break the bone like an egg. & this pink shell of a mouth, mouthing the words.

We light the room by fire, by candle & wood, we light the room by reflection, by mirror & polish, we light the room by prayer & drawing open the curtains. We light the room by huddle & condense, by bringing together the bright & silver, by widening our eyes. The light is always dim.

& also with song & a joyful heart & painting everything white & getting down on our knees & needing less & going to sleep when we’re told & when it should be time for sleep.

On, off. On, off. These are words we don’t yet know.