if I am not green and horses do not fly
then my thymus strikes an unseen note
antelopes across a sky of time
I wear a coat of smoky petals burning red and white
twelve suns bounce light on shapes
five crystal-faced I swim the air
two, four, or ten arms churning loose
till I wear shining yellow, lime
if in my hands I hold a skull, a trident, drum, and noose
I rub the secret lining of a fire
beat the sound of ou, bend down and scatter blue

 

Jennifer Burch has been published in Sal Mimeo, Verse, Free Verse and has forthcoming work in Pierogi Press, COMBO Arts, and Green Integer’s anthology, The Gertrude Steins Awards in Innovative Poetry in English.

To comment on this piece: editors@guernicamag.com

At Guernica, we’ve spent the last 15 years producing uncompromising journalism.

More than 80% of our finances come from readers like you. And we’re constantly working to produce a magazine that deserves you—a magazine that is a platform for ideas fostering justice, equality, and civic action.

If you value Guernica’s role in this era of obfuscation, please donate.

Help us stay in the fight by giving here.