Further and Farther and Soon

sticky summers at home. and winter elsewhere.

I’ll know home by the honeysuckle

and the south facing bones in my body

these thighs

that could wade creeks

without shoes

and scrape skin with waterlogged stones

and gravel

that sticks in between peroxide

and peeling knees

 

I’ll know the

sweep of lawn sticking to my ankles

the slight sway of your legs

the quivering leafless trees

with newly chopped limbs

and the slate against the small of my back

as I lie

not to you

but down
with dewy thighs against the porch

I can make the swinging stop

the shaking cease

but the grass grows still higher

without my cutting it

 

where were you on the weekends

when my mouth was filling my eyes with moonbeams

with sugar plum visions

of night magic

or starlight
and clicked heels
when I didn’t know where to put my hands

I’ll collect these seconds

to tie around my wrists

and lace between my fingers

but not yours

 

I’ll sip you in my teacups

inhaling breaths

instead of steam

 

taking smaller sips

forgetting the color of the blackness

remembering the curling smoke-whites of your eyes

Reviews

[Ali Mark (KS)]

I really enjoyed this piece. I think there was a lot of flowing wording/silent rhyme going on throughout the entire piece which tied it all together. I think, the second to last stanza was my favorite to process. It reminds me of my own works and that's something that came across as magical. The piece feels very, country-esque. Being a kid from Suburbia, USA, I feel like sometimes it's hard to connect to the serenity of nature and silence. This kind of reminded me of how genuine those moments are. Will definitely be back to read more.