trial two.
fluorescent orange bottle laid on a
birch-colored IKEA table;
stray glucose droplets clung to its
ridges, evidence of previous fullness;
it was tossed into a gray, pull-out trash
can at eleven-seventeen am, approximately
two hours after the substrate was ingested
entirely.
by young female age less than twenty years old
but greater than two.
breath hydrogen levels will be shared with her
second gastroenterologist and maybe a
third test will be ordered but only after her
second round of antibiotics, which will take
two weeks to finish.
two ER visits this year,
no recent hospitalizations.
blood pressure: one-oh-one over fifty-one
heart rate: sixty-five beats per minute
blood oxygen level: ninety-nine percent
diagnosis: none, patient appeared to be
He
a l t
h
y
and
St
able
.trial two.
fluorescent orange bottle laid on a
birch-colored IKEA table;
stray glucose droplets clung to its
ridges, evidence of previous fullness;
it was tossed into a gray, pull-out trash
can at eleven-seventeen am, approximately
two hours after the substrate was ingested
entirely.
by young female age less than twenty years old
but greater than two.
breath hydrogen levels will be shared with her
second gastroenterologist and maybe a
third test will be ordered but only after her
second round of antibiotics, which will take
two weeks to finish.
two ER visits this year,
no recent hospitalizations.
blood pressure: one-oh-one over fifty-one
heart rate: sixty-five beats per minute
blood oxygen level: ninety-nine percent
diagnosis: none, patient appeared to be
He
a l t
h
y
and
St
able
.
swan song
A swan dives
into the lake
brimming with
A swan dives
into the tall
full
wine glass.
A swan sings
into the ears
of men made
deaf by
Malbec.
A swan flies
anywhere
she wants
when her eyes
are shut.
A swan flies
nowhere
with clipped wings
and cigar
burns.
A swan sings
everywhere
as long as the
bills
keep
fall
ing.
Swan doesn’t cry when her throat gives out.
She’s had her fill.
Death closes her tab.swan song
A swan dives
into the lake
brimming with
A swan dives
into the tall
full
wine glass.
A swan sings
into the ears
of men made
deaf by
Malbec.
A swan flies
anywhere
she wants
when her eyes
are shut.
A swan flies
nowhere
with clipped wings
and cigar
burns.
A swan sings
everywhere
as long as the
bills
keep
fall
ing.
Swan doesn’t cry when her throat gives out.
She’s had her fill.
Death closes her tab.
weddings hanging by a thread
Hand me a needle and you be thread,
brocade stars with a snare,
promise to wed.
Under holy light, by your hand, i tread
blind to the hoofprints, the powder, the dead hare,
quick– hand me a needle and you be thread.
But nothing came from your hands, only lead
plates stained red, is it fare?
i hate tomatoes yet promise to wed.
More white than a pill, it’s the perfect bed,
you’re bleeding from your brain, please don’t tear—
hand me a needle and i’ll be thread.
Glean every seed from my head,
lock them in a shed and i swear—
nothing for we are to wed.
the hare is spread
on the table as glassware,
kissing the needle’s tip, slipping on thread,
she promises to wed.
weddings hanging by a thread
Hand me a needle and you be thread,
brocade stars with a snare,
promise to wed.
Under holy light, by your hand, i tread
blind to the hoofprints, the powder, the dead hare,
quick– hand me a needle and you be thread.
But nothing came from your hands, only lead
plates stained red, is it fare?
i hate tomatoes yet promise to wed.
More white than a pill, it’s the perfect bed,
you’re bleeding from your brain, please don’t tear—
hand me a needle and i’ll be thread.
Glean every seed from my head,
lock them in a shed and i swear—
nothing for we are to wed.
the hare is spread
on the table as glassware,
kissing the needle’s tip, slipping on thread,
she promises to wed.
Unleaded Gasoline 87 Press Here
It’s easier to lie;
say that i was built;
returnable to a factory overseas.
Am i not a flesh machine;
that pretends to think for itself?
Every morning and night i hear;
the gears—
grinding behind my eyes;
a sinful chorus of desire:
feed or freedom;
liquor or love.
How lewd.
Calculate the trajectory of a promise
ring rolling right into a
forge.
forget it
i came in a box
with an eye
but no mouth
with a left hand
but no ring
finger.
(sold separately)
It’s easier to lie;
say that i don’t dream;
of motor oil mouthwash
rearranging my organs.
i tip it back
real far
and
pray it’ll
fry my
motherboard.
Corpses get buried
i get floored.Unleaded Gasoline 87 Press Here
It’s easier to lie;
say that i was built;
returnable to a factory overseas.
Am i not a flesh machine;
that pretends to think for itself?
Every morning and night i hear;
the gears—
grinding behind my eyes;
a sinful chorus of desire:
feed or freedom;
liquor or love.
How lewd.
Calculate the trajectory of a promise
ring rolling right into a
forge.
forget it
i came in a box
with an eye
but no mouth
with a left hand
but no ring
finger.
(sold separately)
It’s easier to lie;
say that i don’t dream;
of motor oil mouthwash
rearranging my organs.
i tip it back
real far
and
pray it’ll
fry my
motherboard.
Corpses get buried
i get floored.
“This isn’t what I ordered!”
Cinnamon stars swirl
fat & lazy
about my head;
hazy bed
cold nights
warm hands
bright smile
slices through rib bones,
crushing precious integrity.
Gray walls,
sheets,
underwear rolled tight
pull me in drag me over red hot coals
watch as I scream,
rehearsed like
I
haven’t
done
this
before.
Long, slender tines
puncture apple skin
sugary juice leaving
no marks on the metal
it still shines
even in
tarpits.
i may be pretty, boy, but
I am not palatable.“This isn’t what I ordered!”
Cinnamon stars swirl
fat & lazy
about my head;
hazy bed
cold nights
warm hands
bright smile
slices through rib bones,
crushing precious integrity.
Gray walls,
sheets,
underwear rolled tight
pull me in drag me over red hot coals
watch as I scream,
rehearsed like
I
haven’t
done
this
before.
Long, slender tines
puncture apple skin
sugary juice leaving
no marks on the metal
it still shines
even in
tarpits.
i may be pretty, boy, but
I am not palatable.
