Immaculate

And now I’m spinning
in the center of the square
while you count casualties in
fields of a different kind—
faster goes the neon light
spiraling down my spine

And I’m considering the gravity
that’s holding this scene together:
”Am I the center of this orbit, 
or just the one reeling?”
Mindlessly watching
the blur of buildings whose doors
look toward the steeple
staring down at me—exposing
this revolution as my kaleidoscopes twist
in the eyes of God.

And in the silence,
I hear the diamonds— 
crackling transparencies. 
So I sound the wailing sirens,
they’ll beckon the troops yet,

And I’ll be spinning fast enough
To brush the laurel out of my hair.

Left

For those of us gripping the splintery branch,
gritting our teeth and waiting—white-knuckled,
treading through the ashes—still fiery.

For those of us left with the rest of it,
heavy-hearted and losing—frozen
in the aftershock, all senses burning yet.

What's left is us tracing from memory
your shape—fingers numbing and weary,
cutting us open just to see.

For those of us pacing, memorizing
floorboards and breathing the
smoke-filled rooms—considering for too
long: the loneliness
of the hallway closet,
top shelf,
that box
left to hold all the things
that meant nothing to you.

What's left is this dizzying spin. 
Its hypnotic, eldritch doom—relentless.
Still, I'll always wave my flag for you,
even if it takes me.

Musical chairs

Walking in circles and waiting
for the music to stop, hoping
for somewhere to go but there isn't
always and you always know
right from the start
but it never eases the blow
when you are left searching

Whirlpools

Take whatever breath you take.
I’m rattling the masts
while the masses catch their wind.
This is a revolution.

Do whatever you have to do.
I’ve etched circles in the desk—
burned down mountains—waiting
for a breakthrough.

Take your knee-highs and break from expectation.
I’m leaving a sea of paint chips,
dripping away your grays,
hoping my anchor chain breaks.
This too is for me.

Come find me when your mission is done.
I’d rather float in with the tide
than forever follow behind.
Hold your heavy head,
I have seen your saved graces.

Take your ticking time bombs,
set fire to the cigarette cellophane,
burn your blueprints in the flame,
smoky vessels will lead the way,
I’ll sail a shipload of free spirits through the
melting mango sorbet—This
is the call you’ll forever remember
disconnecting.

Could you pour a different shape?
These spheres—they captivate me
in the worst possible way.
Trace your fingers down reptile spines.
Find comfort.

Make these whirlpools stop spinning,
and I’ll walk my best straight line to you.

I know it's almost over

I look down at the sidewalk while digging into the fold of my arm is the strap of an oversized bag and another on the ground, handle extended, and another strapped to my back — you know I always carry more than I should — and I’m frozen between you and the terminal entry, listening to the automatic double doors roll back and forth and back and I wait for the words to circle my empty mouth, but say nothing — surrender my breath and on exhale ask you to be here when I get back — knowing that you won’t — before swallowing my sword, turning, and forgetting to take notice when the doors finally slide open for me.

Jazz

You can find me dirty smirking to a cappuccino queen,
snapping my fingers to her reason for being.
You’d be surprised to know what she means
when she stomps her hands and claps her feet.
Who knew in your abandonment you’d leave 
so much with me—I’ve taken to painting your shades.

Digging graves to deepen the truth undead,
flourishing massacres from an empty bed,
Do nothing. I hear the thunder rumbling.
Yet, my murky theories never amounted to
anything more than a soggy thesis
on an uninspired journey—A love on fire
when all you could see were your dreams burning.
Like portraits of me fighting off your grays,

part of me always to be tied up
in your straight laces, cupping my hands
to give you one more step to take—breathe with me.

I’ll sing more than a sultry tune, 
but for now let’s soak in the smoky room.