ask

a hot humidity blowing
shoulder skin touching shoulder skin on a subway
sticky slightly wet penetrates the senses
strangers should not be touching     but they stay
humid heat brings lazy to speaking
so you just stay     touching

harsh vocal rasps from a hug-deprived human
approach     touch
imagine their exhale during the hug
life changes     it can     in that release
all you need is hug
sing     all you need is hug

a searing horn marking danger
alerting of bombs     bad driver     migraine head hurt
infant signaling want
adults ask but mostly don't
but why but why     question but why
approach the ask with confidence     you have permission

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- artwork by Olaf Nicolai - 
- mailed to Missouri -