Thorny, Juicy
By Ali Jane Smith
NIGHTBREATH
DAYSWEET
STONECROP
WATERSTORER
gold of sunsets
gold of heavy earrings dragging at a lobe
gold of breakfast potatoes in San Francisco
gold of BBQ chips
the gold of molten glass
things the fire makes from sand, ash
lead to other things
rearranging atoms in time and time and time
like slicing through a loaf
entropy: crumbs
solid with the molecular shape
of a liquid
toeprints after a dance on the sand
irregular, random, distorted
yeah, sounds about right
whatever’s on your mind
whatever’s pushed or pushing
the light moves through some things
bounces off others
every atom on a different trip
NIGHTBREATH
DAYSWEET
STONECROP
WATERSTORER
we’ve walked past tree trunks
shaped like femurs
creatures hide themselves
frogmouths, bats, cicadas
wait for their hour and season
now the dragonblood trees
branches like open arms
working their slow way
to the stern blue sky
drawing water from air to earth
the walk the mountain
the sky the tree
plump aloes
scarred cactus
glass slubbed
plants like fleshy thumbs, hairy tongues
grow to light/shade damp/dry earth/air
thermos morning tea spot, drowse of voices
turn the sleeping bubbas face to the shade
sit with the sun on your back
NIGHTBREATH
DAYSWEET
STONECROP
WATERSTORER
gold of tea
getting cool enough to drink
because the atoms slow
it is today
it is today