The familiar scent of earl gray tea sends me back to my grandma's living room. When I was in elementary school, I'd come over multiple times a week and we'd sit on her off-white couch drinking black ... [+]
what the rest have left behind."
—Lil Green
There, not here, is wordless. Even whispers
don't speak; gasped or groaned sibilance, bray
of torrid airs blasting hairs that stray
from ears or climb the throbbing nape. Inverse
of explaining. There's no proximity—
just brush, advancing touch, the eager clutch
final as death, as life. We overmuch,
coupled as urgent necessity,
onrushing body and soul. Or nothing.
Absence altogether, abolished us—
no you or me alone. No torch song sings
what's done, no chansons for utter darkness,
love. Stardusts are notions moonshine brings,
lyrics ghosts at midday's long digress.