I told my brother once
that his bride
was a thundercloud

full of white American noise
and spoiled rain

I said
I know you don’t
believe me
but one day
I think
you will see
what I mean

you will
understand it
when her water
breaks

 

 

 

despite all of that
bad luck,
there was
still
some vibrancy
in her eyes,
some resonance
in the way
she moved.

 

 

 

i am trying to remember
the reasons
but my memory is
fuzzy

i do remember
each reason
had a name
a birthday and
a favorite color

each reason had
a dress size and
a favorite song
to shake it to

i remember
the reasons had blue eyes
or green eyes,
eyes like razor wire
or sunsets over the sea

and i remember one
with eyes like stained glass windows.
though her name escapes me,
i remember it tasting vaguely like a
stale Eucharist
on my rough tongue

and i can still remember
the desires
whispered over dirty pillowcases
vibrating in eager ears

and there were smiles
hanging on our faces
like banners
wide enough
to decorate the equator –
smiles followed inexplicably
by tidal waves of tears
arriving without warning
to sweep us out to sea

and i remember trenches
and moats,
i remember storming castles
and raising flags
against impossible odds

but that was long ago
so, so long ago

yes,
i remember,
back then
i still had my
reason