leif and i

we are six we are seven we are eating rice cakes in the back of an orange van we are hiding from grown ups we are hiding from each other we are eating dirt we are falling asleep in our supper we are falling asleep deep in a pile of coats at a party we are brother and sister and sister and brother we are sewn together by blood and bone and to prove our belonging to each other one night as you are fast asleep and six i press my fingers against yours and see they are the same shape the same finger nails same knuckles and same knees bones and same toes and the shape of your teeth is the same as mine and when i try to see your sleeping eyes by lifting the lids you are suddenly awake and hot tempered and i am angry right back at you and when we wear each other out with the hot flash fury we fall asleep curled together like pups or small birds or two shells on the shore that happened to end up together or a pair of socks or two savages that need each other to navigate. you know north and i know south and together we are a compass.