the elusive dark : slow curve
of a mother’s spine : riverbank
solid enough to stand : home
a starsilver river of arms
my mother’s riverbend is subtle
& soft : her arms wet firefly
light : home the far shore of her heart
& i : the traveler boatless
//
a green fish rises from my mother’s
water : shows me how to take apart
my bones : how to break & reposition
them to make of me a boat :
ribcage hull : femur mast : scaffolding
of tibia & spine : if i leak i fill the gaps
with teeth : the fish says if i use my skin
for sails i won’t need my mother’s body :
yes i say but who
will brush my hair