AMULET

I have a pocketful of pennies

carefully filed down to jagged razor edges

clinking around in the prefrontal area of my trousers

when I have a little wistful thought about you

I reach into my pocket and randomly clutch at a few

press them sharply into my palm

until the bloody stigmata burrows up into my wrist

distracting me from the radioactive lips

and the frigid porcelain heat of your body

that still haunt my reptilian dreams