XXI, XXII, XXIII, XXIV & XXV
Benjamin Winkler
XXI.
clamskin raise nakesweat
raise the body for found
self bedlinen birthstain
sheet we wrap as
scroll haptic fingers
bloodied mouth sore
with sleep we carry
body down spitcreek
lay rest newl mud green
XXII.
lay ourn bodies down
to weed lay ourn bodies
unto unto this like
the end of days
a stoln liquor nicked
cigarette beginning
nakesweat and still
shy about the self
still shy to say to
XXIII.
a sorching air heat clamskin
raise nakesweat raise
ourn backs press to dry dirt
shirts hung like a flag
surrender we unto parchearth
dead grass as knives in back
here we couple again
again knees fore to aft
left outline dirt halo head
XXIV.
the same we draw down
birthstain sheet nakesweat
left halo where head
had been here we couple
again again knees bent
fore to aft we reach still
hands for glass in water
aspirin dissolved still
we reach ournselve begin
XXV.
still the breath how see
in morn how see splintpine
cracked root from rib
ourn hands haptic found
columnar spine touch breast
here mouth sore
with sleep could kiss we bury
selve at rooted how
still could count ring rib
Benjamin Winkler lives and writes in Philadelphia, PA. His work had appeared or is forthcoming in Makeout Creek, RHINO, and eccolinguistics, among other journals. Find him online at benjaminwinkler.com.
Benjamin Winkler
XXI.
clamskin raise nakesweat
raise the body for found
self bedlinen birthstain
sheet we wrap as
scroll haptic fingers
bloodied mouth sore
with sleep we carry
body down spitcreek
lay rest newl mud green
XXII.
lay ourn bodies down
to weed lay ourn bodies
unto unto this like
the end of days
a stoln liquor nicked
cigarette beginning
nakesweat and still
shy about the self
still shy to say to
XXIII.
a sorching air heat clamskin
raise nakesweat raise
ourn backs press to dry dirt
shirts hung like a flag
surrender we unto parchearth
dead grass as knives in back
here we couple again
again knees fore to aft
left outline dirt halo head
XXIV.
the same we draw down
birthstain sheet nakesweat
left halo where head
had been here we couple
again again knees bent
fore to aft we reach still
hands for glass in water
aspirin dissolved still
we reach ournselve begin
XXV.
still the breath how see
in morn how see splintpine
cracked root from rib
ourn hands haptic found
columnar spine touch breast
here mouth sore
with sleep could kiss we bury
selve at rooted how
still could count ring rib
Benjamin Winkler lives and writes in Philadelphia, PA. His work had appeared or is forthcoming in Makeout Creek, RHINO, and eccolinguistics, among other journals. Find him online at benjaminwinkler.com.