- after Dre Levant’s¹ “Icarus Rising”

INTUBATED SEAWEED SLICK

SCOLIOSIS FEATHERBURNT

CONGENITAL DIVINITY

EXCISED GIRLHOOD

{ she watched the sun
   cauterize

a disease and opened her

 mouthwound to inhale }

arent you worried about infection // worried about contagion lips sucking
hickeys around holy chest scars // ash makes your scales glimmer crusted salt
shivers slow between silver fins // feathers swimming in pearl-stained lungs

{ naked in fields of shipwrecks
   dreamed

she of icarus draping inflamed

 wings across her belly }

born sick         born too powerful
for mothers to cradle or fathers to feed
too cerulean for the sky to recognize

IF THE SUN WAS YOUR SCALPEL THE MOON IS MINE

strange shapes they’ve cut us into,, shorn sides
symphonic together,, ghost gills marrying wax skin,,

SANITIZED TIDES TRICKLE

HALITOSIS CHARCOAL

DEFECTIVE SAINT

SUTURED SON

{ she plucked pearls from icarus’
   carnation

hips and opened her purple aorta

 to exhale }

¹Dre Levant is a sulphur quartz, a libra rising, a fake potted cactus. Their newest chapbook, "sun eater" is available now from Querencia Press. Find them on most things under @drethepiper or @lambbloos.