Home Again

Corpses again with Caroline Wilson.

II. animals in shadows

pretend that it's years ago and we're
sitting in the living room of a house
built decades ago by a man in love
with a woman. you turn to me
slowly and say "if you don't turn away
this offer..." we get quiet, the world grows
quiet as dawn. long red drippings on the
horizon. someone touches my arm, and i
realize who i'm dealing with: in
this moment, i am trembling. feeling like
a child forced to try and be
older than i am and forget the
things that make me happy for the
"betterment" of my soul. it's
so funny the things we don't see
except in the corner of our eyes- people who
are in the throes of possession see animals
in shadows. i see pelicans, huge talons, fish
unzipping themselves, bears with bright eyes,
stink of rotting things and sinful things.
i twist and still feel suffocated. i
just want to feel enough again.
i just want us all to feel like
the world could be a ring on my pinkie
finger. the world could be a warm
biscuit and the world could be the butter
i slather on it. the world could be your
family album or my first kiss. just open your
mouth. scream it.