A dream pushes through the swaying shadows

my love songs undulate like the abandoned strands of kelp

Once, before you were born, / I ran from him down the street

we can talk about / pain all you want

My youngest sister’s dying first.

The old ladies march

I stood in a field of meadowfoam 

Mother, father, forgive me, for I have sinned.

I re-rewind the precious tape 

and read again the note she slipped me

Mr. Dog says he has a very important job

I’m sure there was wine, plum slices, sauce pitchers—

Look at how I never needed you

All summer I shadow your band

from the porch

how the will to survive

outlasts the will to destroy.

i didn’t look in mirrors.

All our faults are fallen leaves.

Forgive where God will not.

We skinned the thing that killed you,

boiled its flesh for soup.

Once, I fell asleep in a fire.

No one shows you how to wear your blackness

No one gives you that armour

part threat, part dare.