SNOW DAY AFTER EGO DEATH

today in nonnie’s honor
i pay bills from bed
oil up my hands
wear my flammable bathrobe 
all afternoon
one breast covered the other not
maybe i will unearth
her yellow black mold notebook 
the one i put in the freezer
for 3 months
trying to make it touchable 
so i could read what she wrote 
about sad gratifying sex 
with a nameless man
somewhere with a balcony 
today in nonnie's honor
i tell the mirror
it could be worse 
cut my fingernails
make rice with lots of butter
and eat it
standing up

MOTIF OF A WOMAN WHO LOVES ANOTHER WORLD

and just like that
you’re all about it
if i bleed don’t you
twist in vain 
no direct channel
i used to hold you 
like a bear
you used to sweep me down 
past the places 
that pooled
thin skin holding in 
cellular bloom 
golden fur mirror morph
would you choose the circle 
this time
hark the herald angels say
all these weird, weird days 
what are they dressed as 
a snow bunny an oiled up crone
what does your audience look like
dream girl throws you a ball of sting 
and pulls you in

GOODNIGHT

litmus tests where the
default goes
demanding throbs lull
new reflexive going
holding a lot
quick to dry the spill
see how all things fit together
or don’t 
taper from puzzling 
to something wide enough 
to melt 
like i might want a sandwich 
so bad 
summon the soft bread 
the mustard 
the salt and chew
stars out my window
simulated rain under
the flower silk 
cradle me back
the old holding
down

A NAME LIKE VERA

nostril flare at the flamingo solo
playing fast and clean
the deterioration is on the inside
you look great
erica used to say that about vodka
it preserves you
straying from the contract 
just floating around
old midnight friend
milk dud eyes
my nipple in this sweater
everything happens 
you can’t rely on people
they will let you down
only jesus won’t 
cross hatch on your brow
hash mark smile lines 
deep in a dream of you
high at the wet beach
on a driftwood see saw
lighting cigarettes
with candles

POEMS I DIDN'T WRITE 2025

FOR ASTRAEA

THE BRIGHT OTHER WORLD

GOLDEN SWEETIE

TAXES VS BELLS

SKIN (WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON) 

FIRST THING

FACE VALUE

HOW TO BE A POLE/NOT A BANNISTER

YEAR OF THE SNAIL

HIGHWAY 212

VANIR

ANOTHER POEM ABOUT WHAT I DON'T WANT/ANOTHER POEM ABOUT WHAT I DO

THROW AWAY

GOODNIGHT GARTH