I want to see you fall to pieces
I want to see your face unfixed
I want your unadulterated tongue
I want your songs from years unsung
The stone is crumbled,
back, bleeding.
the fire soft and sweeping
carries shadows ‘cross your nose.
Your mouth is caught! sleeping
eyes untouched, slightly seeping
///////////////////////////////////////////////
A quiet knowing
a soft resign
to pure intentions
God’s design
the body knows
the hands to spread
your skin is soft
like baby’s breath
newly born
sickly sweet
Mother’s burden
Nana’s treat
shave your hair
pat it dry
lean the bones
hush the sigh
///////////////////////////////////////////////
I want to see you cleaved!
I want to see you wriggling.
Wiser than the richest King
your cry, a siren
rattles nations
when did you forget to sing?
I want to peel back your face!
I want to burn off the plastic.
wet and weeping,
on your knees (bent)
eternally, and ever seeking.
I want your desperation!
in the darkest,
thickest night.
I want your every thought and cloud
I want, I want, I want.
I want your ravenous face!
I want to watch the stone drain
from the flesh.
I want to watch you break
I want to count the future from
your marrow, laid to rest.
I want your lip’s brutality!
to wound my precious pride
I want to feel reality
collide, collapse,
and then— confide.
I want to thumb your sickly sorrow
see it, wrench it, from the air
I cannot carry you to safety,
till I savor your despair
I want your last submission!
the pinky finger lays to rest
fist, unclenched
chin, unset
I want your weary, dirty, soul
grainy, gritty, grotesque, old.
I give a match, commend you, please!
burn this reeking monoculture forest.
Behold! the ground with no appeal
to wade in mocking ruin!
sit and smoke, and
wait to heal.
Promise me,
you’ll do your best,
rip up the test
open the chest
let me rip the sternum,
palm the heart,
just because
I want
I want
I want
to feel it beating.