Under the ribs
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between the lungs
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where no periscope lives
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to view the damage of
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long nights
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spent in cold underpasses
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the strain of doves
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pecking at wrists
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the inhalation of smoke
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after you’ve tangled
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your body (with)
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the addiction of
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reassurance
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that sweaty summer kind of
breathing
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Margarita Cruz received her MFA in Creative Writing from Northern Arizona University. She is president of the Northern Arizona Book Festival, contributor for the Arizona Daily Sun, and daylights as a creative writing high school teacher. She has received support from Tin House and her works have been featured in PANK, Rattle, and the Academy of American Poets among others. Find more of her at shortendings.com.