every morning the clouds rise

the sun too behind

the blackout curtain

but it is

crawling grey

mist that gets me up

and looking

for the batteries

for my ears

 

how does it work

he asks

the old question

 

does he want to know

if

not having the signs for

talking with me will stop

the mystical union

of being wet and sticky

​

lights out

on

a bad idea

 

or

 

does he want to know

of

my jigsaw chest

wide cuts pink going white

and the parts below named

depending on the night

 

actaeon arrested mid

flight

without anybody to finish the story

 

so it is

a swing dance contest

with ankles weighed

his mouth a trap

door ready to open

 

his hound teeth

rip chew the answers

wanting a toy

not a challenge

sometimes it is

better to go home alone

 

​

"Choosing Between the Long Jump and the Short drop" was previously published in Volition, Fall 2012.