REVENGE OF THE GOLDFISH

by Tess Patalano

 

          after Sandy Skoglund

 

her back is towards him

          her eyelids twitter affirmation

          poaching static dreams of color

out of frame in utero

in frame

                    she can sleep forever

sheets of blue                     swim folds blue floor

                    drowns windows suffocated with blue

His head bowed down

                    on the edge of the bed

                              there are goldfish falling out

                                        of his eyes

gurgling opened orange

slaps                     a shivered blue floor

                    those he wills                     take to flight

scaling bloodshot desires because

                    tears do not

                    dissolve                     anything in him

because

midnight is                     not a promise

                    he intends                               to keep

 



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