we should have gone to the carnival 

it's good to bury as many fingers 
as you can. i return like daddy long legs.
the thumb slowly returning after being
plucked off. i have a mouth the size 
of a doorbell. outside, the bats are returning to 
play telephone in the dark. i get
a phone call from the dead. they want to know
where i'm from. i point to the closet 
& they think it's a joke. the mail truck 
now drives itself without a person in it.
i get empty envelops every day.
i know i'm supposed to be waiting for something
but i don't remember what. the carnival
comes to town with enough lights
to save us. i have a daughter made of
glass & light. she breaks & we sweep her up
with the dust pan & broom. i used to have 
a magic tunnel where i could pass through
& change my sex. there is clear evidence
of trans dinosaurs. i try to tell someone this
& they think i'm joking. when i say
we're ancient i mean to be alive is to
want to change. to shed skin. to dig 
until your hands are nothing. to turn
your body to syrup & emerge with
a pair of wings. sometimes the moon
gets drunk & texts me. she says,
"i really really think it could work."
i don't know what she's talking about
but i try to be a good friend. i tell her
"we should have gone to the carnival.
i know that's what you wanted." it rains heavy.
i got upstairs where the stink bugs live
to hear the drops fall against the roof.