swimming primitive

I sailed your severed skin savour

while smiling.
cupped hands

catching telescopes on time
like juggling Alvarez

throwing stones
at the temple gongs-

to quench what swells

while breathing. I could surprise your
mouth with mine.

follow touch

with touch
but in the door way

flounder-swimming half faced

into the sand
swimming primitive

the way i learned to do.

you couldn't make me flip
but that doesn't mean i can't.

the difference between here and there is
the tea I used to drink, during double shifts,

at that restaurant we all hated working at.
I called it the trinity;

mixing black tea, coke, and coffee together
made everybody's lips curl downward

made mine move money into pockets
to buy drinks

later
when the slip resistant shoes

were hung dry.

now I just drink and remember
what life was like when I didn't give a damn.

twenty three and taller,
twenty three and fucking like

the wold will end if we didn't.