(ooh) (ahhh) drew it in the dark from out of the deep
stitched it from the fabric of the beneath
gave it appetite before I gave it form
fed it on the friction,
fed it on the storm
set it loose at midnight,
watched it learn to want
now it walks my shadow like a debutante
checks in when it’s hungry,
disappears to feed
I don’t ask — that’s how the working feeds I made a
thing that makes
I made a mouth that takes
I hold the thread,
it frays on purpose
I built the depth,
it found its surface
thousand candles burning and not one knows why
tithe collectors never have to show their eye
runs on the distance between asking and receipt elegant as gravity —
as quiet, as complete doesn’t need my dreaming,
doesn’t need my name
answers to the working,
not the one who came
I check the vessel like I’m checking a net
something’s always waiting in it yet
I made a thing that makes
I made a mouth that takes
I hold the thread,
it frays on purpose
I built the depth,
it found its surface
the letter is not the tongue
the tongue is not the mouth
the mouth has been open
since before you thought to ask
still moving
still mine
still moving
still mine