
the tide of you
swirls at my feet
salt pillars dissolving
every broken tower
—
the effigy of
my body
ignites
in gratitude
—
I’m burning on the pyre
kindling wish
after hope
after longing
after fantasy
everything immolates
—
cracks
open the fragile
spills the contents
into soft earth
into rooting
into the hot wake
—
of liquid pleasure
—
what remains, serves.
what remains is essential
—
presence,
stripped bare.

a sure contour
steel
solid
sharp
makes its mark
—
red
horizon
follows horizon
and weeps
—
a seam
split
teeth in flesh
—
I am a thing
you choose
to use
a fine gradient
—
tucked in hip
crest
against skin
potential
—
a body apart
a shining example
cleave and kill
or
spiritual surgery
—
choose carefully.
cardinal blue jay sparrow crow grackle owl peacock eagle seagull sandpiper heron hawk

this year, I knelt at the altar of
death and divination.
—
I catapulted to stillness
community to solitary
din to silence
deep and dark.
—
again, they say
cover your mouth
count your exhales
watch the…