4 Poems
First of the Month
the blackbird’s shadow bans itself
we blame the epigraph of birds
the good cop of the first born son
a stash of something frosted
in the nose or tips of hair or teeth
the pearly gates of prisons
heaven’s bars redacted
documents a bible verse
of motel dreams a banner streamer
twitch of us together
on the shelf of cheap ideas
bottom shelf bourbon
blues of heaven sent the light bill
hell of angel’s motorcycle
driving through heaven with no helmet on
“words for the body you were”
— after michael m. weinstein
halo
limelight
second supper
hands & hair & skin kept tight
the taut wrist of a jukebox’s flash
& music crept into my mouth.
heat lightning brow
all winter bound
& bundled—book in motel drawer.
return to address sender
self a post card
gender stamped
all pin up pig skin butterfly
& snake oil knuckles
nameless
heathens
saints
the strap on’s lord
who we delivered & desired
who was I but a mountain
without holler
what the silence swore