The Bird, Escaped

The Bird, Escaped

In violent water she rejoiced,
swam with boot strings
around her neck.

I saw her Easter egg, pink bleed
in a cloud. Shaken like dolls.
Her beauty in a box, mine fading.

She's the waves
I crash through, salt
of my tongue and my eyes.

I find a curled leaf
in the water. A whole continent.
Numbers of wreaths tug at my hair.

What I wanted neither
of us knew. Why then did she
act as she did, flying?



Kissless kaleidoscope of my eye,
watch me from your nest!
I clutch these claws.

If I should be a bird, take
my wings, force my beak
into water once more.

Of all my feathers, she said, not one is for you.

*

Voluptumé

The boat passed through every silhouette until only its own was left.
This was my goal. Erase with the sea. Even me.

:   to give a scandalous remembrance when none is wanted!
:   to resurrect that day at the cherry pit pile!

Rhoda, I see your face,

*

Porcelain

Your name's caught
wind in its talon again.

[Backwards crosswords
and shared toothbrushes.]

My bones drop
waiting for your thermal.
Silent grass
on the darkest,
bat-belonging nights.

*

Snow Seeds

Gorgeous sunset
and anger. Brilliant

behind my bones
our city.

*

I saw them being tender
with one another

unlike vegetables
which once tender

can not be made
raw again.