830

(paint her body with leaves)

a gold medal
silver boy
if you find yourself with no love
hold your breath
remember
the way words sound
when you’re dizzy
(everything is a living plant)

bleed conflict from your teeth
know the night as a pillow
sleep if it comes
all of it tastes this way
when you get older
I feel underwater too
kids
kids
that’s sideways blood

if autumn comes
again
if you breathe in a falling leaf
will you take it as holy
(nothing but your bones)
everything is sacred

prevent prevent
prepare
a nice meal if you want
all the kids come home
with forks and knives
nobody
nobody
but us

–
(tomorrow I’m going up to the lake to pay respects if you want to come, I’ll put the bags in the back and you can put your feet on the dash)

there are three or two of us
which would you rather have
–
(he holds you like the clouds
hold the rain)