poem 017

get out
break away
bend toward the sun
get bent out of shape
break out of your shell
hell
smash your shell 
crane your neck
to hell with heaven or whatever comes next
because right now outside 
it’s electric green spring
that sweet and sad fragrant and fresh fleeting thing
surrender yourself to it again and again
say a prayer to its floral cascading amen
indulge your senses some soft afternoon
drunk on love and seeing double
fuck the cynics 
worship romantics 
it’s worth every urgent heart-stab of trouble
even if it’s self-inflicted
even if you feel conflicted
even if it’s for the birds
the blue jays the swallows
the cardinals the crows
or maybe the woodsmoke
faint and bespoke
mono no aware
the scent in the air
the alchemy of fire
evening dance of desire
a reminder that you are 
aflame and alive