Orobas

I.

In a dream there were leaves, 

fleshy skin strips swinging

left   right 

to soprano whistles of wind,

a chorus in the trees. 

Steam rose from petal lips, 

my clothes were muddied

burnt                                 orange, 

lost beneath mung canopies, 

biceps shivering, gripped. 

Throaty broke screams echoed, 

startled the vigilant bird-types, 

startled                                    me, 

and running through rakes of berry-bark, 

fear chewed quick. 

Green,                               sunlight,

rooty                                 snares 

pull me               to loam,

pulsing red,                      yellow. 

Fire                      works

bruise                 sight,

refuse                 crashes, woven                robe,                   equine

flashes,               in moments

I am                     mounted, fondled,

opened,                            curdled, howling              hysterical                          pain, then

 I                                woke up.

 

II.

Pressed against my lover’s back like 

serious men lean, summer garage doors, 

cigarettes on hand for when wives 

disappear into golden, afternoon beds.

 

Plates of brie taunt robust bottles of 

night train, drained, refilled with

baguette crumbs, Jesus Christ, bath water.

 

We breathe in unison, chest rise, hair 

rise. Something rose, pressing throats,

 

and then I screamed.

 

III.

Sometime ago there was fire. 

Candle wax leaning vodka pale, 

lizard tongues flicking curtains.

 

Walls and windows curled inward, 

guiding plastic smells, melting dolls, 

black rocking horse grinning coals.

 

From down the street rode a girl, 

small, pink flowers wrapped tight 

around her dress, ribbons in hair.

Neighbors watched as she wandered 

into barbeque walls, sagging and silly, 

mirror twisted, a bungalow firestorm.

 

This girl was found in bed, silver arms 

crossed, her floral dress peeled back 

and still smoking, stained, patchy tar.

Tears surged down desert skin, forest 

beards, burdened by questions and 

fire, dreaming small, fading screams.

 

Sweating in this bed, damp sheets waft 

flowers, you asked me for aloe or lotion.

We talked until late then fell asleep fast.