i am an orb of helium —
flaming like one, staying afloat
amid the deathless, rushing void.
/
quenching once:
i swell
quenching twice:
i bloom
quenching thrice:
i consume.
/
and my cheek the milky way —
veins of caustic pearls, my strength: every ounce of it
to hold my skin: every inch of it. hold it tight
lest it scatter, those beef jerky crumbs
i'm no blue star beyond glory
i grip myself still.
/
and the dreamscape, it's freezing
an empty realm, an invincible realm; i crawl
from one cliff to another
from where i watch the aurora dance
from the cellar of my heart
that i paint blue and fill, with sour wine
/
i crawl to get out, to escape that bottle
and how does it feel
to cease my breath?
will the breeze raise me up, up?
will i be afraid of heights?
/
i wanted to change
but he refuses
like a child and a man and the seraph of a foregone time
i spent so long far off the edges
like a hull and a spark and the monarch of a foregone life
i spent too long far off the edges
i failed you, she cried
no, i say (i shake my head)
are you mad, she cries
don't know, i reply.
i let the wardrums be my lullaby.