Fingerprints by Jonathan Butcher

The sparks flew as your wing mirror
scraped the parked cars we passed,
your face blank, too focused on destination.
The heat seemed slightly oppressive,
like a breeze from a broken oven, as you
retained that speed with gracefully sways.

That Saturday evening, slowly compartmentalized
by both journey and arrival, the crowded dance-
floor and the shallow bar we propped up. The dust
settling on our open palms, allowing no chance of
fingerprints, only smudges.

The drinks settled slowly, the ice defrosting as
quickly as our interest in this repeated back drop.
Those lights threatened to exaggerate like weekends
previous, our lips now so repeatedly dry and only
remain for muttered insults. We then leave, via the
rusted fire exit, knowing our return is unlikely.

Jonathan Butcher is a poet based in Sheffield, England. He has had work appear in various print and online publications including: Popshot, Ex-Ex Literature, The Transnational, Sick-Lit, Drunk Monkeys, The Morning Star, Mad Swirl and others. He edits the online poetry journal 'Fixator Press', through which his third chapbook, 'Corroded Gardens' was published.