Between His Teeth, Clenched Quotes

“That you were
already inside me and two lives
cost the body its soul. That I couldn’t afford
to let you go.”
― Neil Czeszejko, Between His Teeth, Clenched

“alone, nudity being carved
from exposure, yet detached
from its source, like Rafael’s need
for the one baring his body
for the thrill of disappearing
inside himself, to come out
on the other side
as someone
else.”
― Neil Czeszejko, Between His Teeth, Clenched

“In the dark,
the boy’s cheeks burned, his lips,
striped with spit, caught
a shard of moonlight, used it to cut
and swell
the flesh. It hung
between them, a contained flush, inviting
the stroke of Rafael’s thumb,”
― Neil Czeszejko, Between His Teeth, Clenched