Gris-gris Double Friction
a mexican guitarist plays in the subway car
gets out at the next stop
falls to the track
in the shadows of his illness.
moth in subway car
lands on man’s bandana.
early morning: large
blood clot on a deserted platform.
wings flutter slightly.
red rivulets reach out to speak
down a street night
neon flesh sliced in half
going to bed / tonguing with leaves of glass
walking out into sound
hillbillies and wives shot down / shot up
sacred texts to watch out for
walk away walk away walk away
a silence for the swamp girls with their
lustful minutes and a boneless
corpse from madness in her backyard
eyes bleed
retinas spin
cornea explodes
watched the face
transplanted to the clouds
looking down now
at the grey snow
burning holes
in the windows
explores.
slick mice
time is out
time is off
the wall twists frequently and
a trap
we walk quickly to the heartbreak dance
so we can dance slowly then lie down
beat
beat
beat
against the wall
her heart cries slowly
comes to rest
on the concrete
Preacher
Watching the mommy
breastfeeding her child
as the last gospel
explodes from her heart
Watching the light
from the boulevard
cascade and ricochet
through the window onto the table
Watching the atomic faces
swoop down slowly alight on her spine
take root and cringe
Watching the body
fall to the floor
tremble then stop
waiting for the chalk line
Watching the night come
rising of the moon
laughing behind doors
as the plaster crumbles red
Neuron
Iron
sheets.
Sweat and blood coursing
The ganglion tightens around the bed,
Trapping
the
Sleeping shadow.
The glow of the glass gas tubes and
White noise massaging
the folds of the skull
Iron sheets and
Iron cages
And the cracked window.
Touch the leather glass
The nightingale frightens.
Iron sheets.
Frying
blood.
Claws
clutch at the figure
Reminders
and remainders.
The ganglion tightens around the house,
Trapping
the
Sleeping shadow.
Mom and dad
Hurt.
Sperm dancing
through
the dark light
sighing
as
it
comes to rest.
Watch.
She bends
down and
cries and
watches.
By Peter Marra