bad religion.
each breath, blasphemy.
think burning cross,
cottonmouth,
split lip, tar...baby.

each pull is a prayer
for another pull
and soon enough,
how did it begin?

here comes forgetfulness
and all her bastard children
excuse. denial. regret.

addiction is standing
in front of the mirror
and seeing a square between
the pointer and middle finger,
then looking down and black magic,
splinters, dirt under fingernails.

baby,
tar.
lip split, mouth-cotton.
cross, burning.
think blasphemy.
breath.
each religion,
bad.










***********************************

myself is sculptor of
your body’s idiom:
the musician of your wrists;
the poet who is afraid
only to mistranslate
a rhythm in your hair...
-E.E. Cummings