The Monday Night Drive to Baton Rouge

We can't stay at my house, I just broke
up with my boyfriend, he might be there.
He's moving to Massachusetts soon.
My apartment's off limits until July.

Summers here, days been thick.
I remember how you felt, from last fall.
Now sweat rolls down your places -
the cup at the bottom of your back,
your hand on the wheel racing into
a great story to tell tomorrow.

The story of how we drove to Baton Rouge,
after drinks at Molly's, a slow
dance or two, songs
on the juke we couldn't afford.

So you'll drive me to Baton Rouge,
to your apartment, to make love,
An hour in the passenger side -
my apartment's off limits 'til July.

Love, for the City I Hate: Unnamed Lover

I really wanted us to make love underneath my bayou tree

I've gone to that tree drunk to cry and listen
to music that I knew would only make me cry harder
I've gone to that tree to listen to its leaves shiver
and watch the moon or nude sky through them
I've seen light and dark because of that tree
That tree anchors me into this bayou soil
I'm wrapped up in that tree's roots
I'm oversaturated with water like that tree,
too much to eat, too much heat

I wanted to sit you at the base of my tree's trunk
I wanted to squeeze the knots of the tree
into your hips with the insides of my thighs

I wanted you to anchor me at the base of my bayou tree

i'm in the grocery store looking for your girlfriend

if i keep my eyes trained on the spinning chickens
and the threatening life-charring flames behind them
i won't be tempted to follow her
inspect her buggy
make a list of what she's buying
differentiate what you will eat and won't

Slick city streets
raindrops speckle vision
lightning slice the sky
a head split on the pavement
eyes inhale skies illuminated colored purple and blue
like easter eggs
dyed water splashes up on a shirt
dye a spot on a pale neck
sliced drops slide down above the windshield wiper's line
aren't any tears tonight to trickle down a cheek
cloud is hungover
still bleeding out the liquid from a long day
at the park with old friends
he hadn't seen for ages.