CONTROL

you are red spider lily on concrete floor

each petal a verse on giving birth

each petal a note on taking –

mouth wide wide-eyed

lashes like blades of grass peeking thru

faulted cement – i am reaching for you

wrists cuffed, we pendulum fight

towards a spike-toothed foe

eyes of ruby, hair of smoke

resembling the me of a world I don’t yet know

you are a madness all consuming

it was three a.m. – i gave into you,

even if but only for a moment

even if blue roses danced at our feet

you are finally within reach

here we go again – let’s go home

GROWTH

Enough of you – I want more of me

More sunshine – chrysanthemums

falling out of my hair – rain clouds

bursting from eyelid seams – happiness

wrinkling my cheeks – no more of you

give me dandelions – give me breath

to send flurried wishes into a breeze

give me roots – spread me – connect

me to home – now if you tear me down

my rebirth will be a mopane tree –

FLIGHT

Last night I considered the flight.

I knew I’d crash into the cement

breaking into what fertilizes the dandelions

pieces of me springing from the ground

like freshly planted calla lilies. I wanted to fly.

I wanted to chase the moon. Scoop it into my

arms and hold it to my chest until it bursts –

we become one. I am the clouds, the stars,

and the sun. I wanted to fly. I felt myself

crumbling into nothing as the universe

called me home.

                              – standing on a roof

                              at midnight in conversation

                              with death.