jsk
grocery shopping when the president calls it the chinese virus
it began with the woman in the grocery store
filled with white shoppers and brown workers
and me with a face that makes the real americans
ask where did you learn to speak english so good
it began when the woman saw me turning a corner
one she was hugging with her body wrapped in puff
hands wrapped in plastic face wrapped in mask
pulled down to her chin her mouth free to gasp
like a fainting victorian she screamed in a
whisper get away from me and turned her face
as if she couldn't bear to look at her rapist
intent on her prey pray dear lady did no one tell you
no one can save you from yourself and need i add
you're not my type or did i simply say quietly
something reasonablypolitely suitablyinvisibly
past the pre-packaged herring and pickles
towards the exit where i try to coax me back into me
it began when i didn't know if i could find my way back
filled with white shoppers and brown workers
and me with a face that makes the real americans
ask where did you learn to speak english so good
it began when the woman saw me turning a corner
one she was hugging with her body wrapped in puff
hands wrapped in plastic face wrapped in mask
pulled down to her chin her mouth free to gasp
like a fainting victorian she screamed in a
whisper get away from me and turned her face
as if she couldn't bear to look at her rapist
intent on her prey pray dear lady did no one tell you
no one can save you from yourself and need i add
you're not my type or did i simply say quietly
something reasonablypolitely suitablyinvisibly
past the pre-packaged herring and pickles
towards the exit where i try to coax me back into me
it began when i didn't know if i could find my way back
(but what’s your real name)
In the beginning, there was my name in your mouth
wilting, like a lily in the desert
wilting, like a lily in the desert
so I snatch it back. Prying open
your dry lips to fish from it some
your dry lips to fish from it some
crushed petals, the center-power
leaving a trail of read tears.
leaving a trail of read tears.
but what’s your real name
It’s not JANE, like the jane does that appear in the morgue,
it’s not JUNE, like the insipid month
between spring and fury
it’s not JUNE, like the insipid month
between spring and fury
it’s 지 for wisdom and 은 for grace,
seated at the table with the other graces
taking their turn.
seated at the table with the other graces
taking their turn.
but what’s your real name
As real as real as real as this is sharon, the rose of sharon,
the lily of the valley, a'bloom a plain in israel
the lily of the valley, a'bloom a plain in israel
you say: a plain, a plain, a plain, plain name.
so you’ve never lived the song of songs then
so you’ve never lived the song of songs then
never felt how desire drips gold between
two lovers arching towards freedom in sharon.
two lovers arching towards freedom in sharon.
but what’s your real name
On a plane to the place of my birth, I learn that there, the rose of sharon
carries the hearts of a nation, of a peoples, divided,
north and south. but there are kims on both sides
carries the hearts of a nation, of a peoples, divided,
north and south. but there are kims on both sides
have you heard this one? the one about throwing a rock
and hitting three kims? rocks kiss my temple
and fall to the earth as gold.
and hitting three kims? rocks kiss my temple
and fall to the earth as gold.
how else can you explain it?
you found someone new
in a life so thickly covered with lies it is impossible to say where one ends and one begins so
how can i pick out just i lied, when it’s and
one time all the time time itself is a lie?
one time all the time time itself is a lie?
for i’ve been told that time passes.
but that time passes, is a lie. it has never moved pass this moment when i tell
but that time passes, is a lie. it has never moved pass this moment when i tell
you: this moment of fissure, through which warm, bright light does seep
i am happy for you. not
i am happy for you. not
through, but instead, a black wetness that blankets everything, as far as the eye can see.
perhaps this is the sea.
perhaps this is the sea.
i am happy for you, i say over and over. each time, i pin to the crest of a wave. praying
it
it
one night, it will come crashing ashore, releasing the part of itself that is true. at the heart
of each life is a truth.
of each life is a truth.
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