I am wringing my clapper neck To and fro two Hands of mine gripping my neck To toss fro and to.
Like a bell, Swinging my waist with my shaking Aching parts. My wood carved shoulders Hold me together in one spot, so I can splinter. Move but can’t move. Just my clapping and my waist, so I can fabricate to run.
And when my crown finally falls, I lose it. The cannons sputter fire, My lip quivers, wanting it to be my yoke, Glistening with impossible joys I’m so happy— I’m so overjoyed again Clang again! scream clangs again! The sound bow and my mouth crescendo At all possibility except one. Two and fro Two to one by one, one to two by too. I can never be again with you.
In the quiet, little Travis can dream Fantasize about rockets to the 4th moon Zeta phi. He can conjure an ambitious adventure in the eastern jungles, teaming with deadly wildlife that protects the sacred artifacts. He can imagine a warrior woman So tall and dark, combating against vampires In cities glowing in the moonlight. He can write about a time traveler who has to stop the zombie wars from forming in the late 19th century. He can dream can’t he? The dings and bats of apps, the noses ant taking of his sister, the callous roaring of his father. The influence of music and screens vanishes. And he can think about another tale, of aliens trying to warn the people when they say: the silence will not be unheard.”
When I was six, Dry mud on my fingertips, I ran over a toad With my bike on a mysterious, concrete road. It had hopped right in front of me And felt like pebble under the tire, you see. But I had known instantly what I’d done That dark afternoon with very, little sun. I had been peddling so fast, to see if I could fly Instead in seconds, I killed the little guy. I hit my brakes immediately, And cried and cried For I was now a murderer; no matter how hard I tried. My mother caught up and held me in her arms Trying to convince me that I had done no real harm. But I know the truth, and anyone else as guilty as thee, I’ll hate and hate forever, with very little apology.
I watched you take time To play with partners Instead of clean your room. Like a gorgeous cat tossing a bird across the ground with silver wings. You liked plucking Gorgeous feathers. 🪶 By sitting across them at your dinner table “I want you, I like you.” You’d say. Smile. Smile like cheshire ready to start the game. And they would welcome you into their homes. Likely, the homes were extravagant, and the car they brought you in, luxurious. Because otherwise, your value would drop. But I think you thought: if I can leave this one By the morning, I’m the coveted prize that won.
Your dark doe eyes and creamy tawny skin. Always cutting your black hair before it got too long. It’d be easier to pull that way. Pull you back into their arms. But when you’re done you’re done.
We drew cute cartoons in the 24-hour Coffee X-Change. We drank sweet pink bubbly wine and celebrated our birthdays at my house or downtown. You said you’d be there at 8 but we did not fully embrace our adventures until 11 or 12. We stayed up and watched Handsmaids and hated on men. Carp for hours on the phone about how horrible people can be at work. I carried you back to the car when the police raided the sweaty, flashing house party. You’d cry that your boyfriend was heartless. I cried about a crush who rejected me. We had the same perspective on politics, people, and getting old. I thought that was rare and we were sisters for life.
You wanted to be a dentist, a clothes designer, a sugar baby? I should have seen when your Indecisive impulses that you turned on your prey Would one day turn on me. I’d wish you the best but you don’t even know how to clean your fucking bedroom.
Dear Mrs. Swan,
I must sincerely apologize as I will be unable to attend your ball. Something urgent has come up you see, and I am unable to shuck my responsibilities. They got me. They stole my life and placed me here in the industrial period. I’m afraid we won’t meet again. Sincerely, Sir Silly String
When I returned home I was not prepared For what I’d see everywhere Shattered glass and broken furniture Gave the impression that it was a tornado But I live in the desert A dust devil maybe? No, something much worse. It has lingered in my home a Long time. Yet today it decided to Reveal its true intentions and curse me. My tv stand in pieces, my table has fallen, My furniture has scratches, how crestfallen You stupid cat why Are you like this. I wanted to come home, rest Give you a little kiss. Instead you pursued your midnight run in a day. And you’ve ruined our home in this way Expensively. Thanks
explicit content warning
So you dug your claws into The bare skin on my back And breathed into my ear That I looked tastier than a snack I lunged for the dirt and found the cross Stabbing you in the eye with it And then I scrambled up and was gone
They found three bodies Close to my complex And you were in the crowd Pale and long haired elegance Crimson brown irises You were staring at me And asked if we could get a drink The next day.
So you lied. And I found the wine Tasted like sweet metal. Your blood in my system You wish to kill me? We’ve been together for months And I felt safe. Why now? Is it the golden moon? Is this how you played your game With all your victims?
So easily we went out on dates And you kissed me under the grey sky. We made love in your truck In the quiet wood. You whispered haughty Things. You lapped at my wetness And we kissed passionately through the night Until we met again and again “Hold me.” I obey. You say I make you Laugh. And you like how we have tiny details In common. Strawberry ice cream. Art is our body. We embrace day and night after work. And you’re smile is all I need
When I ran I wanted to die right then Because you chased me and loved it And you pinned me to the hard wood floor Scraping and bruising my skin Where you used to leave kisses. I’m screaming with anger and crying My heart is broken, kill me now. You give me ten seconds to run. I grab the cross on the fireplace And run out the door into the wild.
