Hidden
hidden in dawn’s
silken robe
is the possibility
of Valhalla’s feast
or the bitter brine
of the Icarian Sea
Did you really have to
play that song
this morning?
It sank into my aura
like a spear
and I still
embrace its blade.
OK, I’ll bite:
How was your day?
It’s over. Cast my dreams of sleep
To the sky above that darkens
From the weight of water. I wait for rain
to sing me sweet lullabies of emancipation
from this very day. I wait for a ride.
Parking lot stays rollin about this time.
Two sisters old as methuselah
post up against a Lincoln town car
and light Virginia slims then blow clouds
between exclamations of Yes I did girl!!!
The pockets of silence between drags
are spent surveying the sky.
Walking towards the store
they put out lung rockets
with the weathered forefoot of house shoes
that I know
have touched some young misbehaved asses.
They whisper to one another
He ain’t white. He Redbone girl.
I laugh. They do to.
Have a good night baby.
Thank you. Yall do the same.
Have you ever been invited to a family pool party?
Where you grill outside, listen
to the music you were raised on,
and see your blood course through
everyone who’s present’s veins?
Have you ever swam in your t-shirt at said-event because you know out of everyone you’ve encountered these were the people who would be the most critical of your body?
Like an extra layer of clothing
and a farmers tan was the way to send
your ego soaring?
Have you ever purposely lied about wearing sunscreen cause you knew the burn from the sun would be less excruciating than hearing about how “pasty pale” you were born?
Like a firey red glow gave you more
pride than letting freckles spew out
over your body?
Have you ever lied about what your plan for life entailed?
Like saying you would voluntarily
go into debt to be inherently miserable
if it meant a college degree was involved?
After all, the more money you spend
means the more money you’ll make,
right?
Have you ever felt that lying face down
in one of the busiest streets in town was better than watching the person
you sold your heart to walk away
from the only thing that made you
believe there couldnt possibly be
a cruel thing
in this world?
The cat approached the baby first,
unprompted, I’m told. This kicked off
a wild ride:
grab, roll, stretch, grunt, crawl, wiggle, grab, stare…
The gray belly-fur is so soft, who
could resist curling her fingers deep within it?
roll, big stretch, kick, nuzzle grate
A long tail flops over pink onesie,
motor-legs propel each of them
into a tangled heap of arms, paws, legs, ears.
grab nose, grab and rock, squint eyes
This cat puts up with far more from a tiny human
than she ever did from me.
roll on, grab tug, pull, look up, got a leg…
Each time you think, surely she’s had enough,
is about to attack, or run,
she stretches out long and lean
or inches just out of reach.
scoot, scoot-grab, roll, poke ear, roll over, push belly
Even when the baby flops
right on top of her, she just maneuvers
into place, kicks off the wall, and stays
right there, purring.
grab foot, done.
What a gift, that they get along so well.
Proportion is the fear.
Was there enough offense
to justify my becoming
a car wrapped around a tree?
Was there enough rain
to flow over the bridge
between your heart and mine?
Was there enough gravity
bringing me so far down
that the anthill really did tower?
See, I’ve been sorely lacking in positivity lately
while you became a devil in the negative
conjuring and releasing this vicious heart storm,
but humans rarely set out to hurt other humans.
More than likely, you laughed over this simple thing
and just didn’t notice the joke didn’t land.
Such is the nature of much of what’s offensive.
It’s so crucial to pay attention to other’s reactions
just in case their perception carries
a wildly different weight than what you’re expectin’.
For me, you were not just a simple thing,
yet it’s my duty to understand your direction,
where you are and did not intend to go
before I can accordingly respond.
I’ll admit your innocence in ignorance,
my lack of need of anything more than apologies,
then in the interest of moving forward together
I’ll open up my spirit of many pains,
exposing the soul of every boulder that builds
this mountain I can’t seem to climb by myself.
I can’t help but notice
the way your jeans fit,
resembling the curve of this cup of tea
you brought to the table,
ending just above
your medial malleolus, just shy
of the brim of your sock–
softness exposed
as you walk away
while I drink, alone
Today the air is heavy against my skin
and I did not beat the rain
I wonder what makes change wait
to happen all at once
New drawers new sink
New home big life
I’ll still hold your spare key
if you’ll have mine
The thought: I’ve never done this before
Meets: I want to play house with you
Lets fight about how to take care of an iron skillet
and forget to buy coffee filters
You said I’ll meet you there
so I ran down the stairs
