queen of the dirt

queen of the dirt i am
a brat covered in mud
spitting and hissing my
heels grinding flowers
back into the ground
i am draped
in velvet darkness
scars like constellations
easy to hate
naked i am a
whore and a venus
wild-eyed and star-studded
anger rising
a sun in the morning sky

ten things

one
i want to know your soul
two
i want to grow a garden
see dirt come to life
three
i want fat babies
a round belly
and your laughter
four
you and me
the kitchen table and
a bottle of wine
every weekend 'til we're old
five
pack a suitcase
take your hand and fly
see pyramids and mountains
make you a house
made of shells
six
is it too silly to say
white dress
green grass
confetti and a limousine
i don't care as long as
there are rings and poetry
seven
navigate a sea of tears
while you bail boats i'll
save drowning sails
lash them to the mast
show them the magic in
the mist
until they're strong enough to swim
eight
wrap myself in the
blanket that we've built a
shelter carved out of
conversations
dig myself out of
a hole of history
become all the things
i told you i would be
nine
flush the pills
down the toilet
and let the sun
take my face in both hands
sit through the dark nights
and wake up the next morning
dream of flying
and know that
the dream is really mine
ten
put my hands
on your hands
my lips against your lips
i will be loved
and, beloved,
my lifeline ends
where yours does
my heart
begins
with you.

home

i want to close the door behind us
sit quietly backs to wall
hide hide secrets from the outside

i want to grow flowers outside your window
put them on your pillow while you sleep

when i step into your arms it's so easy to see
i'm home

feet

sometimes i am just a
pair of feet
walking, running, stomping, storming
dancing dancing towards you
hand in crook of arm we gallop
towards sun and concrete
you stop for graffiti while i
stop for red lights
something about me is careful; i'm sorry
sometimes i flinch when
clouds move too quickly overhead
- you pull secrets from my hair
slip promises on my fingers -
can you kiss caution away?
some mornings i hear you sing and
put reason to bed when i rise.