971

when the snow came
we put our mouths up
against the rock
waited until water
still cold and bitter
dripped onto our tongues

when the pipelines burst
we found out our fathers
were swimming in oil
conditioning their skin until
they felt “just okay”

when our dock burst apart
in the last big storm
we watched from a neighbor’s
condo and sighed
then
opened up a bottle of
champagne
to understand

when we decided to leave
each other’s wild arms
we ended up being
just what we thought we’d be

when I sought refuge
in the breast of a caged bird
I thought I’d find god
in her ribs
beating and pumping
filling my own cage
with the smell of wild roses