Friday, May 30

WITH DARLINGS


Alone I am at my very best but I seem always to be followed by darlings

darlings with sharp teeth or darlings with fuzzy bodies or darlings with big

bellies or darlings with wide shoulders like bookends I do not mind

the darlings I do not mind the kisses from lips like long purples or little lips

like shell shards I just miss myself all alone on a Craigslist mattress

or a borrowed rug I miss wearing tops no bottoms cheap gold robes

drinking sparkles and Stoli eating a sandwich for every meal I am a hell

of a catch alone but with darlings I am less in love with myself with

darlings I am momma or host or maid or teacher or quiet quiet quiet

I am totally or I understand or try deep breaths with darlings the borrowed

rug is bought the bed is made the beans are soaked and with darlings

with loving darlings I am all in My sister says you too alone are magnolias

you alone are a delta flower you don’t have to be thirsty ground cover

kill your darlings darling kill all your darlings but then who would rip

the sheetrock from the walls who would wreck the rug


(Adele Elise Williams)