Soft Spots for Love

Azalea Aguilar

doorway in a dark alley off staples street

where tia spends evenings hiding herself

wonder why they laugh and speak in whispers

when they speak of her lovers

why she retreats to the kitchen and lets them

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dad sends roses to mom years after she’s left 

his longing for her like the thorns she clips 

sharp shears for my father, soft spots for her lovers

who steal from her wallet after she’s asleep

shut the door softly so as not to wake her

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backseat of pickup trucks off the coast 

fogging up the windshield as tide chases us

further up the shore, i let them further up my shirt

because kisses is stay and i’m sorry

how you make safe, skin and stay and sweat and sorry

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sit at the bar until dad is done with his set

slur of his last song your only signal 

for how this night might end, whether he’ll piss 

himself or slam into a guardrail, the only thing 

keeping you and him from drowning