southern anthem, overlooked

Boy and Moon
Edward Hopper, undated

Parabola, Parabolas

 "Flush"

At night the flies rest

And when the air conditioners shut off

you can listen to summer's sweaty handshake

wrap around you.

But last night I couldn't sleep--

I had to put up a defense of pillows

to guard from the banging walls
like that story with the familial dolls.

I wake up and pray for a thunderstorm

wishing it to sweep all the dust out of the house

So while I'm still pulling the sleep from my eyes

I hold my breath for overcasts.

I think about going out west against the earth's rotation

Like finding my place back in time.

Maybe there I can finally breathe
and have cookies and milk before bed.

Yes, that's where I can jump backwards into luster:

where I could find eternal

without anxiety of becoming comfortable

And it feels like the inhale between laughs.