prelude to something ordinary 9
tall tree, this gesture is not an answer
answers are scarcer than gold or natural-looking toupees
the sky is impenetrable
the sky is a retreating promise
why chase clouds when they are always elsewhere
roots have the right answer
roots hold the soil hostage, threaten to choke rain from it
*
tall tree, a lumberjack is here bearing the gift of open hands
I met a suicide bomber under similar circumstances
I found the remote control to heaven’s garage door in his mouth
tall tree, make sure he’s naked
tall tree, make sure his teeth haven’t been sharpened on other rough bodies
*
tall tree, my armoire talks to me in my sleep
it cries b/c of my argyle socks
leaves half-drunk on color, half-lost in summer
crawl, dark wood grain, crawl like hungry worms
the bronze handles attached to me mean there’s food inside
tall tree, identity is a network of branches
w/ so many destinations not quite reached
