Night Sky with Exit Wounds

The face
not mine—but one I will wear
to kiss all my lovers good-night:
the way I seal my father’s lips
with my own & begin
the faithful work of drowning.

Because the difference

between prayer & mercy

is how you move

the tongue.

& remember,

loneliness is still time spent

with the world.

The most beautiful part of your body

is where it’s headed.

Don’t be afraid, the gunfire

is only the sound of people

trying to live a little longer

& failing.

Ocean,

are you listening? The most beautiful part

of your body is wherever

your mother’s shadow falls.

Don’t worry. Your father is only your father

until one of you forgets. Like how the spine

won’t remember its wings

no matter how many times our knees

kiss the pavement.

Quickly—I climb

inside.

I enter

my life

the way words

entered me—

by falling

through

the silence

of this wide

open mouth

I have

enough ink to give you the sea

but not the ships, but it’s my book

& I’ll say anything just to stay inside

this skin.

Maybe the rain is “sweet” because it falls

through so much of the world.