I dug myself a crater
upon which to climb
out of your wedding

you said extinction
means agreeing
to not be seen

& I am not about
removing myself
from the premises
of Earth

but here are the pearly
gates & golden steps
one can walk & walk

up into clouds
of thunderbolts
skipping time

like stones upon
the black surface
of water let’s say

to next year
when I have forgotten
the empty pool

& blueberries
have fallen out
of my mouth

& bounced off
a stone wall
I could climb

to jump from

 

(originally published in LEVITATE, Spring 2019)