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from ‘Selah’

(selāh) סֶֽלָה

A Hebrew word of unknown meaning at the end of verses in the Psalms: perhaps a musical direction,
but traditionally interpreted as a blessing meaning “forever”






Maybe the shape of my mouth is the word itself - I am looking for.

My body is a plum-sweet alphabet. It does this thing

like rapture, like I’m unsure and atlas.

I want to scream

eyes closed: this is me without

I lift my lips again to the black-smudgy wall

I am a dog with a human face






They had to use a machine to defrost my brain once they found me

under the bone-coloured sky

in the park, on the riverbank.

I couldn’t open my mouth, the first time.

The friends in my bed laugh

at the half-empty glasses and beer cans around us.

All I could say:

some hours, melodies.

His eyes were a sleepy-valium blue &

they rain inside me







I used to run into the streets with men three times my height

return in the morning, tapping the back-window:

to find dad spooning cereal into his mouth

he would not ask me where I’d been.

I am the daughter of people who cannot swim







I was patient

when I had you

I plucked majesty

from your karaoke song.

It was a strange pageant,

I want to live like common people

the mystery won’t leave me alone







I wanted to be a human

feeder.

On my knees

mouth open

all mouth, no arms.

Your lap

molten cushion.

Happy

hole,

like the movies







Up to the flumes of happiness, never been,

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