Because I mistrust my head & hands, because I know salt

tinctures my songs, I tried hard not to touch you
even as I pulled you into my arms. Seasons sprouted

& went to seed as we circled the dance with silver cat bells
tied to our feet. Now, kissing you, I am the archheir of second
chances.
Because I know twelve ways to be wrong

& two to be good, I was wounded by the final question in the cave,
left side of the spirit level’s quiver. I didn’t want to hug you

into a cross, but I’m here to be measured down to each numbered
bone.

A trembling runs through what pulls us to the blood knot.
We hold hands & laugh in the East Village as midnight autumn

shakes the smoke of the Chicago B.L.U.E.S. club from our clothes,
& you say I make you happy & sad. For years I stopped my hands

in midair, knowing fire at the root stem of yes.
I say your name, & another dies in my mouth because I know how

to plead till a breeze erases the devil’s footprints,

because I crave something to sing the blues about. Look,
I only want to hold you this way: a bundle of wild orchids

broken at the wet seam of memory & manna.

Yusef Komunyakaa, Canticle (via yesyes)

(via grammatolatry)

1. soundstaticsilence liked this
2. ghostheart liked this
3. thegoldenfeed liked this
4. smokeinthemoonlight reblogged this from talisman
5. peppermintswirlscloudmydreams liked this
6. moofearthecow liked this
7. talisman reblogged this from childrenofwolves
8. like-a-cut liked this
9. findinglife reblogged this from grammatolatry
10. quietacquisitions liked this
11. peteradio liked this
12. vindita reblogged this from yesyes
13. ajal liked this
14. speakthesewords liked this
15. sierradevries reblogged this from grammatolatry
16. chatdimuse reblogged this from grammatolatry
17. bettergethitinyoursoul reblogged this from grammatolatry
18. electrostaticity liked this
19. frac-tures liked this
20. word-digest liked this
21. formulaself liked this
22. mayeeware reblogged this from austinimus
23. lived reblogged this from thiscouldbeacity
24. wishverse liked this
25. lajeunefilleenfleur liked this
26. wishverse reblogged this from strandedallinlove
27. windtheme reblogged this from cacchieressa
28. strandedallinlove reblogged this from grammatolatry
29. cacchieressa reblogged this from grammatolatry
30. clavicola liked this
31. cassiopeia reblogged this from yesyes
32. abiinthesky liked this
33. acuriousworld liked this
34. breathemystardust liked this
35. throughtheframe reblogged this from thesecretofexistence
36. thesecretofexistence reblogged this from austinimus
37. aunifiedscene liked this
38. cappuccinokids liked this
39. austinimus reblogged this from shewasoctober
40. gnostix1 liked this
41. jennyeatsbabies liked this
42. shewasoctober reblogged this from cynicismbedamned
43. cynicismbedamned reblogged this from grammatolatry
44. carolina-lion reblogged this from clavicola
45. desperatelyquiet reblogged this from grammatolatry
46. ssarianna liked this
47. comelylittletree liked this
48. childrenofwolves reblogged this from grammatolatry
49. peteramblings reblogged this from lingeringchai
50. loattraversiamo reblogged this from dei-tea
51. Show more notesLoading...