new poem

This summer I've been having way more vivid dreams than usual. The following was written right after I woke up and before my alarm went off. I'm considering publishing a zine inspired by my dream journal, either that or working a few accounts into my reissued Save the Bees Worx Vol I - III, due to drop this Fall.

Recently my sweet friend from Baltimore, Jessie Delaplaine, brought up the joy of returning to old work with fresh eyes - which is something I don't think about or do very often. I wrote this in the second week of July, back then I thought it was finished. Then our talk it inspired me to revisit it and do some sweeping, hang up some new shelves, change out the candlesticks and rearrange the bookshelf. It feels nice to write new poetry without starting from scratch.

Here we are at the Ritz-Carlton, making ourselves at home on my birthday.

rain / glitter

"Meet me in Ravenswood"
my last whisper in your ear
after you found me freezing and throbbing in stilettos
​   a drag queen recently taught me how to correctly walk in
and gave me both the hoodie and puffy coat off your back
before disappearing into a crowd

I ran barefoot down Foster Avenue to find you again

​I'm still
​running
​I never stopped

​
When I awake
the house is submerged in indigo
at the windowsill I find
thick periwinkle frosting
caked across the sky
the only break of light in the far west
an island of silvery blue emerges
pipped with wispy white clouds
​   and promises waiting impatiently

leaves from the trees kiss and ride, then reunite
their infinite passion shimmers and twinkles
​   between the silhouettes of maples and oaks

Puddles collect
through I can't hear their rhythms
over the thunder crashing in my heart

Scribbling this down
as I am hurried through the terminal of a dream
tired eyes need to see this through
before I go back to sleep and
re-record over the synapses that brought you to me

As I go back to poetry
the way the godless go to prayer
​   when they are desperate for salvation

My deliverance is my heart is forever tethered to Chicago
​   ​even though I no longer walk down Foster Avenue