floating and leaving no trace
these are the coalsmoke wings
the oilslick feathers
each a dizzy spiraling martyr
how many times must
the wing evolve
modifying limbs
until the correct vessel
for flight appears
we are rocks with voices
we are the earth subducting ourselves
gravity’s pull
is action at a distance
i trusted the earth
to catch me as i plummeted
my wings dissolving
when i realized
i had no instinct
to soar
i was not disappointed
in her embrace
the beating of dark wings
in complete darkness
and the downy touch of
feathers brushing your cheek
this is no dream, this
eternal blackness
no manifestation of
of unfulfilled desires
or torturous regrets
these are the angels
with knives for voices
they want to sing to you
these are the angels
with razors for hands
longing to caress you
these are the angels
with fire for tongues
and how they want to kiss you
everything moves in a circle
what i have breathed in
i will breathe out
my spine pushes its way out
through the back of my neck
hot skin, dry eyes
no pain, just pressure
like when the doctor says
you may feel a little discomfort
everything moves in a circle
what i have breathed out
i must breathe in
heavy, dark wings
emerge from my back
black snake fireworks
intumescent ash and billowing smoke
rings of fire carving new bones
where my shoulder blades once were
these wings beat
throw dust into the air
create tornadoes of choking, blinding sand
but they cannot lift me
and my arms hang now useless and free
everything moves in a circle
what i will breathe in
i have already breathed out
everything stops
except for the wings
of the hummingbird
feet away from us
as he dips his beak
into the young buds
on the lime tree
his neck and chest
a glittering ruby
his face soot black
he tarries for seconds
then shoots like a star
over the wall
into the neighbor’s yard
Words and Feathers 