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ghosts and spirits whisper haunt me
stomp their feet and wave their hands
they are secrets, pure and simple
words tripped off tongues and danced into my dreams
call me an elephant, never forgets
slow and steady
mind like molasses
but i've got all these secrets bundled up inside
slipping out sleeves like magic tricks
you can see me, lips teeth tongue
opening wide with smiles like sounds
but i won't tell because truth is fiction
and lately i've been trying to
forget my dreams.

the water

in the water sinking i am
heavy like an anchor
stuck and solid heavy girl
carved into ancient ocean floor

in the water listening i have
a finger in each ear
child again i am hoping hoping
for angel's soapy sighs

i am floating floating
legs frogging fins seeking
i am searching, angel, anchor,
something to keep me afloat

daphne

legs roots sinking into the ground digging digging for soil
something sweet to drink eat wet sometimes you're
starving carving their sins into your bark
feet gnarled from reaching reaching toes curled under
hiding from the freeze
palms pink stamp lines like rings writing a story
a tell a tale an ache
just how long has it been since
someone split you open to see
all the rot inside

two

you say you like my body sway
you like the shape

dust sand off conch shells and hear the
roar
place rocks between our toes

i want you to feel the heat of the sun on your shoulders
feel the weight of our love
in your hands

save your life

Boy cries dripping eyes like
leaky ceilings
sleep-lined face turned to me singing about
salvation
I don't know how to replace your breath
I know how to beat
your heart
My life's been saved, repaved
depraved, degraved dug up and spit out
and laid down in the dirt with the
flowers and worms
Boy if you cried I wouldn't lie
it would be alright
Sometimes we all need to be
rocked like we are
dying and new.