fresh ’n’ clean
This poem appears in We Were Hateful People.
in gardens of semiramis
legion seraphim lead cherubim
sample tender idle sodomy
they are tough and beautiful
they are okay with some shade
here in shingl'd ark
eye penetrates stonefruit skin
heady and dry winedrunk
it tastes like pleasure and nausea
it touches like sodium and soil
feathers flit into view
does bird rot in wall
eye nicks my cheek my faith bleeds
eye follows crimson tucktape lights
it judges each urge dark each habit
it wonders if smile was too broad
if there is enough time to gather
all my dogs and wail
noncollapsed house is equity
noncollapsed house is prayer
eye considers nerves and fur and fear
(neither far nor firm eye feels
eye shall go mad in this aisle
too dew list tells eye to inoculate
itself against noise with noise
offer something burnt to cement
worn desire paths of suffering
leave on stoop snout spleen tail
promises are warnings
and then— fly fly