suddenly, suddenly: like a brick to the head
caught in bramble, cut my knees
compass clasped at three degrees
she whispered softly just to me
the difference between wasps and bees

and we sucked the venom out of one another
as if to pierce the skin on me: a hymn comes out, so quietly
i memorize the dictionary though diction has all but failed me

i have read the novels in your black eyes, your zebra stripes
he had my sister in the night, again
i heard her howl loud and stark
we made snow angels in the dark

he reciprocated when he took his cowl off
he dyed my hair to match his
we had to hide our erections
he put one hand near his head
and made the shape of some weapon

i can't forgive him -- no, not yet

she filled the grocery bags up with lizards
i put the drill to my head, she the scissors
my sister is screaming and no one believes her
the mattress is glistening with blood and with sugar

and we all will sleep at the bottom of the river