my father’s open palm, drum taut, all war song.
crown of lye, barrette & braid. two chords
plucked out my mother’s throat, wrapped in foil,
hurled off a lake bluff. sink full of the boys’
dishes & my wet, shriveled hands. all this, sea:
bruise blue, ghost thick. & there. somewhere
between chicago & home, my third skin
scorched onto a highway, pipe tucked in my
boot, gina’s breath singed to my neck. the sin of
her, my first good meal. the entire tongue. every
finger & lash, sweet lightning. whole body,
gospel. whole mouth, cauldron. whole heart,
witch witch witch. & there, land: a bed I built
myself, fresh country. & there, sky: endless
choir of cocoa & rose & my name.