Permafrost

First published on Slink Chunk Press, November, 2017

Fur is smokeless in frost

crackling like adrenaline

beneath pricked blue exosphere

glyphs make unfunny faces

yellowing baby teeth grin

anchored in gums burnt black

in the kitchen, a sour mouth

pauses for emphasis

pepto pink ears furl back

against anorexic skull

flesh flays like torture

in imperfect pockets

embers detonate

in their sockets