E^lizabeth K^ate S^witaj

Nights That Don’t Cool Down

Trains should’ve stopped

hours ago when sun

melted cement pillars

but somehow tracks stayed straight

and the rattle breaks

anything I leave in my open window--

empty peanut butter jars, flowers,

my eyes-- hours after sun

still brought down

any cars or skin leaving shade

We all shed like lizards now

and never again like Nagasaki, Hiroshima

Shirts I bought at those museums

burned into my skin

Pull down the blinds

Drink some coffee

Wait until it all ends

Bleeding Again

Tonight I only want wings

to break the back my back

between the shoulders my shoulders--

leather black, feathers of any shade

or colors, simple bones

Doesn’t matter

Tonight I only want something to show

for pain

and must breathe deep to remember

my body has more than an abdomen

I don’t care if I can never fly

Tonight I only want your warm arms

and the hands that held me down

to hold my cramps down

I don’t care if you can’t love me

just your arms

and no guilt

Tonight I only want

to forget

I mean to sleep

Scarlet’s Lughnasadh 2006

So far from Equinox
and I’m already warning you
keep watch
maple ginkgo every day

and you’ll no longer dream
they burn
overnight
yellow red

Bearable Brightness of . . .

I guess I could only be happy
here
when I cross bridge
want to climb long white
No your cock was no Tower
of Ivory . . . House of Gold
want to climb the Empire State
building until its lit peak
burns me whatever color’s this week

You talked me into Brooklyn
and live in that other borough

But God you know

I just can’t sleep

[step back to issue 2]