We could have been mistaken for a married couple riding on the train from Manhattan to Chicago that last time we were together. I remember looking out the window and praising the beauty of the ordinary: the in-between places, the world with its back turned to us, the small neglected stations of our history. I […]

peace is that girl, told to be quiet, told not to tell, assaulted, abused, as a minor, as an adult, by the priest, by a stranger, peace is that girl that can’t speak but is picking up shattered pieces. -healing- not only a name, peace is that wise girl, isn’t that vile man, that kind […]

Yesterday, I injured myself and the explanation didn’t make sense. I said, “Well, I was walking…” and that was the end of the story. At this age, my body is a stranger that I keep meeting over and over again. The words “I am” are slowly transforming into “I used to be” because every year, […]

Your whole body has a fullness or a gentleness destined for me. When I move my hand up I find in each place a dove that was seeking me, as if they had, love, made you of clay for my own potter’s hands. Your knees, your breasts, your waist are missing parts of me like […]

So much to be saved For much more later Lips loosely sinking Break free or sin Let us engage In a contest Where i can win But you will be my loss Let the loud whispers Only be heard through our raging pulse Red eye, i mean I in person Choking on blood clots Because […]

God intended for clouds to be bean seeds so when it rains stalk we would use it as a stairway to find Heaven, if we ever lose its path but— the indomie woman died with her soul that outran the ground while Jesus’ bro ther’s brothel burnt its eyes so, no lust flesh found a […]

my inside is a drought a symbol of euthanasia which means “death is near a bucket holding music” those other things are still other things and illusion is a little not deep says an eternity of black holes. we exist as poison as gin lurking in multiple rooms of the stomach I wrote out pains—the […]

The light is out and after the dark, what’s next? are you answering voices too? is your message a broken mir- ror of decked feelings that hold the truth’s floor? The heart declines sin yet! Those hands are on the scene. another darkness beholds God as water with memories sometimes— as fingers with glue so […]

my skin is a camouflage fabric, soft, disappearing——transparent threshold leading to freedom, immunity from you; love. my heart is a gauze-like country permitting entry without exit. cigarette in mouth, I breathe in dew into my lungs and exhume forgiveness everything that concerns the heart is heavy; burden that you cannot see. in the family photograph […]

If we can remain, we’ll take the road’s complexion becoming full moons, becoming bare words whose tongues is laced with black bloods. black bones bearing bells that ring with each step late pilgrims that still remain and write tales bout’ home. Ruddapoet