makes addicts who don’t care
the cage ceiling is painted
like the sky
drawn by the lone porch light
of collective recollection
the creaking loveseat rocking
the bonfire by the river
a young boy’s yearning touch
yearning not for the one who is in his grasp
she merely occupies a space and time
his yearning is to push
the fire in his body
into another fire
to soothe the northern bird
that feathers a long cold wind

                                                        after a song by Dylan Baker
                                                            —and thanks to Djuna Barnes