April 10 - SPINES

PUSH! They told my mother
as I swam through the sea
of her placenta
forged in the blood of
CORTEZ And MONTEZUMA
this smashing together of
brown and white from such
DIFFERENT SHORES
CHILD 44 destined to travel
the broken glass highway of
THIS BRIDGE CALLED MY BACK
joining the ranks of
ENEMY WOMEN pushed
OUT OF THE MARGINS into
100 YEARS OF SOLITUDE
upon THE CONFESSION
as we entered the valley of the
RUBYFRUIT JUNGLE
made of simple flesh that
felt the sting of each arrow
never the granite of
STONE BUTCH BLUES
it seems it's been a lifetime of
STORMING HEAVEN and
THE BAND PLAYED ON
all for the right of
A WOMAN'S LOVE
fingernails ripped and bleeding
trying to dig holes deep enough
to hide away these
SECRETS OF THE FLESH
and the lights come up and
it's LAST CALL
WHEN RABBIT HOWLS
staggering out the door into
hallowed night
leaving bloody footprints in
the SNOW GARDEN
swearing undying love
even if only for this night
'cause we're all afraid to be alone
while we're looking for
THE PROMISED LAND