I start with the pain, but it always turns around by the time I stop writing. Grateful for these little demons, exorcised in ink.

---

weak from my core
the half-stopped faucet
lowcrossed wonder star

you have fed from the trough with
such abandon
the animals avert their eyes

wincing
second hand embarrassment

love upside down
you take and I just

keep

pouring

so willing
a monsoon that never runs out of rain

until
she
does

—

I take a breath
and remember

how it feels to be given to
how it feels

light/expansive

covered in sunlight
and dripping in
gold

watch the rain on my sunflower heart

watch the green
after all the winter

shining in all power
with a paintbrush
in my teeth

hieroglyphics for an ending
symbolism for the fire
that burns down a dead forest

red as the sunset

and the moon rises, so
cool

raw as my love is
strong.