Getting Along

Getting Along

Is it because submission is the only gesture to be rehearsed,

to be dressed, to be modeled, to be cast, to be chosen

in the one and only one drama to be staged in the theater of

this world, where everyone must act with the backbone humbled…

                                                                                                                War Voyeurs

                                                                                                                Juan Felipe Herrera

I can understand absolutely needing to fall

into a place where it’s all laid out different

like in dreams where you are entirely yourself

but not the self you are when you are

awake and taking her on there because awake makes

you break open the back door, makes you

lace your boots deliberately and makes you make sure

each eye is filled and pulled tight to the bone,

to the middle of the calf because leaving

in those boots means you mean business you’ve had

all you can take of the way you need to prance

and dance to be her son.  Don’t you wish

you could dream it all into the daylight, hover

on it above the water like a Jesus bug skating

away and making only the smallest waves

possible and not drawing the queen cat-

fish from below who only teases you with

her shadow, because what are you to her

but a bug and the bottom is slugged, all the

garbage of your hair and skin she takes

with her every time you visit.  Living with her

was worse, but you have those dreams see,

and you learned how not to wake the lady

who makes you lace your shoes too tight

and so when you were both awake together

you make the deal and bring it into the house

with you the first time.  And who was it that

asked first because you’ve been smoking

a long time by then but this is different this shit

ain’t supposed to go like this but in that dream

when it’s all laid out calm and warm and without

the need of shoes don’t you roll it fat

and somewhat tight and say hey smoke this

it’s good you’ll relax and she flashes and you

almost stagger but you hold it together you hold

it out and she reaches and the lit cherry

end glows in the middle of her mouth like a stop

light and she pulls it in the way you’ve only seen

old pros pull it in and she holds it and holds it

like it’s new like it’s just been born and when

she has to let go she doesn’t want to but she does

and she sets it down slow and no cough

at first no wheeze no nothing but oh, oh,

now that, oh, now you know, I’ve been needing that.