1026

For Love // 1 of 2

her teeth graze my back
in my mind

the army has been deployed
it’s summertime

her legs sneak out
underneath
a hand
a touch
just for a minute

the curve of her back

(a sonnet on fingertips)

I see the army is gone

she marches on my lips
boot camp in my bruises

where did you go
can’t I ask
if you’ll live for another
another year on my juvenile
streets
I’ll make you mayor
president
take your black boots
up my spine
I say
oh I say

when she cries
over stress or over stress
or over me
I buy loafs of bread
lay them at her feet

and when I cry
over stress or over stress
or over her
I buy loafs of bread
lay them at her feet

THE PROPHETS PROCLAIM
IN DYING STARS
IN OLD PAPYRUS
IN SAND
“LET ME LIE DOWN
LOVE ME LIKE IM USELESS
KILL ME LIKE IM USELESS
KEEP ME AROUND
MAKE ME BETTER
MAKE ME WORSE
LET ME LIE DOWN”

army broadcast –

full stop