your almond tree your archangel
your mouth was unowned
they watched you jealously
your teeth were starlings
your body was commodity
your body was unowned they wanted
mineral rights they wanted your no-fly zone
they wanted trademarks your body
buried everywhere your body found 
nowhere even with a gun held to your head
they could not find commodity
in your bones communism 
in your bones communion 
the buried stay perversely 
alive the leaves fall the leaves rise perpetual 
sunlight your mouth is sunlight 
we are swallows flying through the meshes 
of your death your mouth is sunlight 
your mouth is yes
your mouth is no 
your mouth full of brambles

Meredith Stricker | Notes | Dear Silence >>
Contents | Mudlark No. 54  (2014)