While embraced in bed
what they never realize
until it's the worst thing
too late
and they're poised to spring
like rats from a sinking ship
is that I'm mostly rocking
myself to sleep
or maybe they do
and that's why they stay
until the waves
have risen
so high.
Then an angel of
the Hebrew god
all safely clad in silver
impaled itself
slowly
on what was never
meant to be said--
a dagger emblazoned
in gold cursive
as follows:
The Almighty coughs
after orgasm.
Get on that boat.
Stare into the sun.
Keep your mouth closed.
Blame it on the spray.
A friend
who knows nothing
of your plan
is harder
to interrogate.
O Captain!
My Captain!
We had this trip
by the bag
while it lasted.
Hydroplaning
down the Palisades
Interstate Parkway
while watchlisted in
the wild gin wasteland
but grateful
for
the growls
from widespread eyes
dry
South African
wine
that little fox
nestled between
unlikely crevices
crawling out
before sunrise
to tend to her kits
and friends
who love enough
to refrain
from party invitations
laced with cocaine.
The best defense
is a good offense.
The best penance
is this sentence.
It must feel so lonely
being on top.
