dreaming of kaleidoscopes (selections)

canary in a cave

i see shadows on the wall

of things happening beyond me.

petrified into paralysis

by too much and too little,

i sit in the dark

and chirp.

***

nuns

nuns

habits of black and white

explaining their faith

***

in the night

in the night, your mouth at my neck

a long passionate kiss arches my back

then stronger, hungrier, more purposeful–

i wonder how close you are to my jugular

do you mean to suck at my core?

but you stop

and i am still alive

so i think of leeches instead of vampires.

the next morning, i stand at the mirror

from behind you wrap your arms around me

i am looking at my neck

and seeing the truth of your intent:

a territorial claim to ownership.

then i look at your face and see more

the arrogant leap from brand to birthmark.

during the day, someone asks about it

and realizing the truth of accomplishment

i turn and say to you

it is merely a bruise,

and therefore, nothing permanent.

***

crease, flip, crease, flip

crease, flip, crease, flip, crease, flip,

i fold the kleenex into an accordion

then tie it with a tiny piece of string

(it’s important to tie it right in the middle–

i have the strings all ready–)

then i separate

(don’t pull it)

ply by ply

(it must be done carefully–

the layers are so thin–

they tear easily–)

IT’S BORING

AND TEDIOUS

AND STUPID

i pretend to fluff it up

as if it’s something important, something artistic

then i toss it into the large flat box

WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS FOR THREE NIGHTS

my mother and i

my sister’s getting married

and my brother’s upstairs

allowed to do his homework

instead

i feel again those tears

of frustration and injustice

and reach for another kleenex

***

(free downloads of the complete collection at chriswind.net)