1234

I saw the lovers standing in
turquoise fields
their hair ablaze and
their fingers covered in dirt

they tied their babies to weeping
boughs and old cotton gins
hoping to get some peace
get something more than promised

they approached me
you, too
you were standing beside me
your hands in your hair
pulling out the undesirables

what’s it - what’s your posing for?

you handed over your tongue
laid down and breathed
a last breath
gone until they stirred you
feeding your dry mouth roots and
pieces of bark

the lovers carried you to the cross
under the last new moon
tied you with vines
fed you grapes while
the nails went through

in my head
you were a golden fox
folding and dozing
on a straw pallet
looking and breathing slow

I left you in your new palace
the walls you told me
made of salvation and pine
aching to be burned
a tinder box home

when the lovers finally left
my skin had become blotchy
I began to sleep under the porch
howling for food and comfort

you began to pace the yard
craning your winding neck upwards
asking
begging
until I heard your voice
coated with syrup and hope
join with another

I saw the lovers standing in
turquoise fields
their lips stained and
their hands bloodied

they tied their babies to
swinging barn doors
left them on straw pallets
hoping to give them new life
something more than promised

they approached me