Red Bricks River Walks

if i fell
inside a
paper coffee
cup
held warm
between your hands
swallowing myself
scalding bitter brown river
maybe then
i would know
exactly when i
fell in love with you
a song turned off too quickly
bourbon sipped into
the curved cheek of
your smile
every moment
pressed next to
dried flowers between
bible passages
sacred whispered
rain falling
from grey clouds
over Louisville.

Nikki Lockhart