in here
oxygen has stopped moving
a body is melting over a dream
that is alive and well
an intention
blackwater
we intertwine like parasites
we love like decay
i could be convinced to move out of here
but every moon begs for this same
consistency
and I am no moon
it’s just like a gunshot
these hot words in my head that force
blood to move
for once I am not tar
and the girl on the back of this page
she is certain
I will find a way
she sings it “goes on and on”
and it will
If I don’t stop it myself
because when your gaping petals expand
just to taste the blood of Christ
every velvet ant will find his way
to your core
because when you are born on the mouth of July
you are a sedative blue tongue
and they will come to extract
you from your veins
because your short life is meant to feed
caterpillars, it is impossible
to assume that you would be
collected in the fall
for more
two honey bees scribble
across Rupi’s milk
her tragic black paperback
blooms
on a blank kitchenette
empty plastic cup
waiting for a purpose
I tell it
“go”
but who am I to
say anything
Rupi says it all
if her grace has been missed
you should find it
gather up her past
in her shadow
and twist it
into purple origami
for me to dry
each drop
that falls because
of ways men
have touched her
the hardest part of loving her desert is
knowing that it did not come
from you
it doesn’t matter that she is blank
to you
i see her
scribbled in fine
point
so many want her
temptation
I am not alone
in this I have thought
about her since
childhood
so many have had her
some by accident
or not – no matter –
when she craves
a taste of you
she will have you
some do not want her
cold caress
stealing their breath
but others – like me
flirt with her heavy
want
zero our rifles
just enough
to taste silver
before
a moment like that
like this
is crucial
lightning strikes,
dry heat
radiation
takes place
of
the sweet kiss
on my cold shoulder
I find seconds
in days
that last
forever waiting
to speak
whisper even
because tragedy
has hands
that rip through
this soul
this particular soul
that sleeps
like a demon
in benediction
that opens a
bloodshot
mouth
in his direction –
even the desert would
freeze over
if it knew him
my sun starts sleepy
on this side of
ecstasy
rolling in deep
sudden
pulsating
submission
his shadow aligns
with time
that belongs to
none
stars are ever burning
love
do not forget me
out there
rain lives
and breathes
and falls asleep
the way I want to
instead
I stay
eat cactus
fry worms on black top
undress for men
I don’t want
touch
every
square
inch
like its you
not the kind you think of
when the word presents itself
there hasn’t been gifts
or flowers
or cakes
no declarations of love
I am veiled in quicksand
my ankles stolen
right from underneath me
A preacher speaking “blah, blah, blah, God” ….
and all that stuff
my dear family and friends
gathered around me
laughing
a single dove laying on
an altar
plugged into oxygen
plastic wrapped for perfection
suffocating
the caterer
with the smile of a thousand devils
reminds me to pay my bill
tonight we roast the dove
maggiemaeijustsaythis 