June 20 - 22

June 20

Object In the Mind of Others

The only meaning in life is to reside as a good object in the minds of others. 
– Tom Hiddleston quoting a “very wise man”

Longing is not strong enough verb for once
to be a thing, beloved as a childhood 
stuffed toy, velveteen and come to life,

trying to holler with my spaghetti-thread mouth
don’t trust anyone 
who tells you they are a nice
person, trust someone
who is kind to you.

Because nice is not kind.
Nice will tell you a lie and swear by it.
Kind will yell you truth while swearing.
Nice is in the lips painted red.
Kind is in the eyes rimmed red.

I want to live, wiser than Yoda
who proclaimed to do or do not,
there is no try. To try is all
we can swim to when we’re unfathomed.

Nice is thoughts and prayers.
Kind is protesting.

Object in the minds of others
that strength is your arms, your legs.
Object it’s the size of your soul in god’s.
Strength snuggles fawn-shapped 
in bramble space
between heart and lungs in someone else,
eating bark and leaves and clover,
so the sun can shine down, finally
with finality, on the grave fresh
for the son buried warm
for lavender to grow in.

June 21

An Ode to the Tartan Army

I fell asleep on the softest June night on chanting
No Scotland, No Party
My brain looned outward, fraying places
back and forth – Boston to Scotland –
leapfrogging who to sing, hug, kiss,
longest, loudest, hardest.

You rolled Boston in a love like a roar.
In a house burning itself,
you made us touch our own faces,
feel the tears there, and know
what kindness feels drawn
across our skin again.

June 22

solstice

summer 
breathe sleep out of my lungs
cobweb sun to my eyes
raspberry my heart in blossom

winter
slake air from my glut
swelt red from my skin
slay shine from my eyes