death throes of a fish

frenetic caffeine dancing just to remember
arms and legs, remember motion.
thrust of self in the awkward springy swing
around tongues and hearts unstrung.
faces running circles around
which button came first.
memory failing even as recall supports
any stiffness of jaw or knuckle.
down in marrow, down at heel,
down in the mouth, never comfortable.
the seep can be reduced by sweating.
so we dance as if on strings,
unravelling to this beat so quick
it is barely heard.
until your breath tastes like iron
and your fists slip free their timorous hold,
feet stop still, ribs working bellows,
blowing embers, kneading out stale air,
sucking iced smoke,
scent of melon uncorrupted
mist and sadness blown away
on the hips of foreign winds.