Monday, September 7, 2020

Caught In God’s Mouth (For Wanda)

 

 


 

she caught a nasty bug in her mouth

it fought and flittered

buzzed and bit

bile scraped her tongue

that twisted between tooth and torn wings

 

she opened her mouth and spat out a butterfly

half wingless      legless     feelers bent in forever

her tongue bled beautiful colors

unable to color words such unspeakable colors

 

oh     bitter tongue    be quiet in your quest

to be better than     to be best     to fit

nestled      in a mouth full of love

that has words full of peace     of acceptance

as well as angst that gets caught between teeth

 

oh      my sister     breathing in cross-breathed air

how could you not know    we all bleed blue

before air knows blood’s name

before wing stains eyeteeth

colors of wants that can never       could never

be    as beautiful     as spat wings

fresh from a fierce God’s mouth

 

who do we blame     sister

butterfly or beautiful death

 

©Carol Desjarlais 8.7.20

 

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