The Midwest chill set in,

bone shiver like splinters

with humidity dampening

my shirt to skin, and then

heating pad draped long

across my chest, I picture

my pacifier to quells my mind

and to distract stress to tickle

my heart, a steady warmth

instead of beating it to death.

I move my lips in search

of new skin to lick into record

my repertoire of tid-bits

I’ve learned from the pacifier,

more often than not, I suck at…