Leaves flood storm drains and gutters like former lovers retreating to the sea, leaves crowning every street crossing like crinkled blindfolds, former lovers retreating to see themselves as they were, once, eyes closed scattered along the landscape like storms my grandfather died last week appearing nonchalant, leaves in drains supplanting rain retreating to the sea, landscape scattered, storms of barren trees bearing air and isolation but what do trees know of grief, leaves flood sidewalks like strangers who know better than to be out this year, disposable masks scattered along the landscape as the viewing is today storms send pedestrians scrambling inside, shoes scraping against leaves like strangers searching for good news in their own reflections for lack of places to look amateur reporters sorting through the same four stories to share the most palatable the funeral is tomorrow words they can find among the trees, but what do trees know about grief except that more leaves
Stood back from the crowd slightly, a light
face amidst the many in the acropolis, his gaze
captures mine. Fine features alight, he is a flame bright
in the summer sun, my greater half. The myriad ways
the mind plays over the less than gentle grasp
of his fingers entwined with mine consumes me. Days
are lost to the pleasure of his presence, his body mapped
and charted by my hands—not for conquest's sake,
but to know the certainty of companionship at its core.
The world is to be conquered, but the heart, a maze
to rediscover again and again, a mutable space to explore
the very breadth of closeness that inclines him to stay.
Although I've
i am not handsome, but i am endearing
and wearing clothes to cover my indecent
flesh and unhealthy habits i will charm you
with witty jokes, sarcasm, and a surprising intellect;
because, who would think I’d be social
and approachable, smart, and charming
despite being fat, and unattractive?
considering the question
i dared to undress and see my body
for the first time in weeks
-sagging belly, and a full stomach ,
fat breasts, stretch marks,
and my manhood asleep
as if it were impotent
and quiet.
people compliment my shirts,
or my beard’s red tint
but never my smile,
and rarely my eyes.
sometimes i am cute,
and i’m
A Week Of Kisses
i.
The first day I told you I loved you,
I imagined kissing your shoulder,
Well before I thought about your lips.
Because I don’t know what I am doing, firstly,
But more importantly,
It’s because I know things can spiral quickly,
If things start shifting
After we lay down the concrete.
So I kiss the foundation,
Before we reach the soil.
ii.
The second day I told you I loved you,
I imagined kissing your elbow,
Because it holds together the touch
And the flex.
But truly,
To exhibit it,
I must kiss the joint that bends
And combines us together.
iii.
The third day I told you I loved you,
I lay my lips to your temp
あの丘で
紙で作った
飛行機は
桜に落ちた
探している子
Ano oka de
Kami de tsukutta
Hikouki wa
Sakura ni ochita
Sagashiteiru ko
On that hill
A paper-made
Air-plane
Fell in the cherry blossoms
A searching child
Have I ever told you about my brush with the Giant Gorilla People of Kenya? Nine feet tall! Chests as wide as bureau cases. That's what bureaus are shipped in, you know.
We were walking through the jungle. And came upon a vast clearing. 60 feet across. Fearing the dangers of the dark jungle, I decided to lead the team into the clearing to make our camp. We reached the center and began to pitch our tents. Mind you it was pitch black, but for our lanterns. Dead of night with barely a sliver of moon.
Never truly relaxed, I still felt a certain degree of reassurance. I felt this place would be safe. It wasn't until we got the fire going that I