Boarding Your Body’s Stations

in the coarse fabric of a summer’s eve

the pads of their feet decorated by soil-kisses

your fingers clutch the corner of my elbow

there are giants on the horizon

would you meet me at their intersection? 

the sun lashes welts against their oily backs

sores draped across their shoulders

swallowing their skin whole and keening 

you tell me i have a mother’s hands 

you tell me they have kindness in their gaze

i turn: all i can do is stare 

you’re crosshaired between my two eyes 

stuck in the habitual coffin-nod of what-we’ll-never-say:

look at me (left / right) 

droplets glittering down the slant of your cheek

you hide your face 

there must be something wrong with me 

the delighted cries of children the sting of salt 

the waves beg at our feet like a mutt

us, the all-knowing; us, the all-powerful

your legs submerged in their body like a white fish

the tender part of your neck seared through golden cascades 

you draw triangles in the sand 

i am envious i admit        

         and i almost believe in your preference of god

that you are worth saving because your muscles bend back with restraint

i’ve been dreaming of you kissing me sideways 

lips half-parted 

you who have knelt to gulls and one-armed kings

curled yourself lifeless around a cigarette

know i find your voice sweetest when broken