octogenarian: three-year old muscles
tiny-gloved minor appendages
frozen blue pool igloo
packed, packing white snow

coco eyes, dipping chocolate drink
snagged nails on mitted fingers
frozen blue pool igloo
igloo by the sea, igloo in the yard
igloo by the sea, igloo in the yard

it was the kindest magic trick i ever have seen
fixed, fixed, fixing machine
fixed, fixed, fixing machine
electric current, heartstop
jumpstart: heart cold
jumpstart: heart cold

divers we go down to the ocean floor
circles of light, treasures below our feet
surfacing up to the sun
anchors up, boat’s adrift; left alone

premonition of whatever’s to come
floating on tanks of oxygen
webbed feet, sit straight up in bed
“my father’s voice: i miss it all the time.”
“my father’s voice: i miss it all the time.”

it was the kindest magic trick i ever have seen
fixed, fixed, fixing machine
fixed, fixed, fixing machine
electric current, heartstop
jumpstart: heart cold
jumpstart: heart cold

mothers aren’t those we should blame
fractious, puerile blandishments
chiclets, cowlings gnaw at her face
i often forget: we are the same

his absence would spread like the sky
oblivion: no tickets for life
absurd death, tender resurrect
soft but inexorable
soft but inexorable

it was the kindest magic trick i ever have seen
fixed, fixed, fixing machine
fixed, fixed, fixing machine
electric current, heartstop
jumpstart: heart cold
jumpstart: heart cold