Upon the Reception of Another Death

First rough draft written on 12/12/15

Upon the Reception of Another Death


When she opened her mouth
about what had just happened
I felt what an earless gumball machine must feel
and none of it made sense.

She gave me grief the size of a nickel
and tucked it away on the edge
of the brim of my burning
bird bath, scorched it with an invisible kiss,
hot like wine on the cusp of night
when things get hazy.

Not like the nap
where my head soda popped
carbonation clarity sting.

I finally came to, listening
to the distance in her voice.
She was there, too.

The Companion's Promise

First draft written on 9/2/17

 The Companion's Promise
 

It's a grim path out there, a windowless wood
pockmarked with black-top and the emotions

tend to drain like ocean tides and swell
like tornadoes all while showing up to work

on time and cleaning another dish
and lava cracks the earth and Satan

offers me another kingdom. The fluffy
fortress of my bed envelopes me,

a chance to rewrite my coming story
my companion disfigured his body

on inflammation overload, takes my hand
his pockmarked, bloodied hand and gently

tugs me to my feet to my path;
he is not writing a tragedy.

A Prayer in the Margin of this Rough Draft

A Prayer in the Margin of this Rough Draft


A list of people
alongside this meandering scrawl
of a scroll.

I recite each of their names
in my mind:
Anna, Cable, Nate, Ben, Stephen,
a little louder than silent
giving breath to my hope.

The trees are nerves tonight
a touchy system spreading out
into marvelous shade.

Constant starlight 
sheathing longing branches,
stretching farther out
but not far
enough.

The moon
never comments on this; just
reflects. 

Each one of them
symbolized by a jumble of letters
just clear enough
I know it's them.