body weeds

when you find your
body full of weeds
resist the urge to 
drink your father's poison
from the shed-- 
stretch your
arms high-- graze
the low hanging
branches of the 
evergreen trees--
feel your spine
fire-cracker on
the side walk--
they keep lighters
in the top drawer
next to the kebabs 
& the birthday candles--
crouch in 
the driveway with
your flick flint
& fire-- little
girl you have needles
& spines-- you 
have roots
as deep as your
own bones--
there is not process
of removal that 
will leave you 
unscathed-- 
do not blame yourself--
(as always)
blame gravity or the 
spore-breathed wind
who kissed you
with so many visitors--
kneel in
the water when your
skin needs to drink--
feel the river snakes
wriggle by you
on their bellies--
they won't bite
if you learn how
to stay still & mean it--
do not be afraid 
of the roots--
i know you feel them--
i know they knit
like your mother--
thick wool around 
arteries-- marionette
your wrists-- trust me--
the brush killer
won't save you--
nor will devouring
gravity once & for all--
we need your body 
held to soil--
we need the lush 
lawn who waits
beneath
the first snow--
we need the patience 
of your freckles
& the tenderness
of the dandelions--
if you are to survive
you have to trust them
when they tell you 
that they are flowers--
protruding
between ribs--
cracking the asphalt
of your neck--
you are going to
want to tear
yourself
apart-- uproot & 
bleed gravel--
you are going to
want to sleep on 
the floor by your parents
bed like you did when
you were young &
wrapped in fever--
this is you--
this is where your
body has grown--
when you find yourself
stranded in 
the labyrinth your
backyards & garage
doors do not cry yet--
first locate your
voice in the throats
of the morning doves--
in the start of 
the blue station wagon
in the drive way 
know that 
you are not home 
& that the weeds only
want to make you
more course & 
earthy-- less
prone to the full
threat of gravity--
hold still--
count backwards
from one hundred--
drink water
until your blood
trickles clear water--
you are such 
a bold sound of concrete
such a valorous 
attempt at 
sturdy-body--
let the weeds break you--
each fissure 
bringing chasms--
yielding breach--
so many entrance ways--
you amphitheater--
you stadium--
you bones