your mind. Turn
around. Look
the other way.
Is there another

way. Go ahead. Try to posit
the future. It’s
just down there she sd, he
sd, the bodies torn to

pieces sd, the skins like rags,
the bloody hair, the burning
hair – but where is
the face. Who were u then. The birds

are making nests of gatherings
from the mass
graves. Are you hearing
the ID fall from

the hand, the crows fleeing
in retreat, the drought-raved
crows … Where is it
we are heading. So fast. But is this fast. I must speak

what is in my
heart. I don’t know
if there’s anything left now in
my heart. It is so

dry. I must
scour it with
words. They must bring
moisture

back. As they rise up in me
they almost touch
my fingertips & then
they flee onto this

page, they leave bits of
themselves, right here, this trace, these skins …
Once they rivered everywhere –
meanders – currents – you must let me

speak
words – do not bark
at me – my sounds
come slowly – no they are not

answers – they are cries –
how long have you been
human – I
am still free I

think – it’s been

such a long time – I must
open my soul –
I feel it’s still around me
here – but where – I just

had it – it might be years – maybe
it’s days –
I feel I had it
just minutes

ago – words
must tell me
where to look –
do you mind giving me

some space – don’t
crowd me like this –
don’t touch my
mind – it’s not yours

to touch – the smell in the air
has changed – it has no
speech in it –
it’s been centuries,

this is not personal,
this space I am occupying
it is not personal,
why do you want to move

into my space,
onto this page, this line, this line which has become
so very long, we have been waiting in it
forever,

& this taste in my mouth

is a new one to me,
it is my swallowed words,
everything I must not say.
What is it u

can’t say. Will they
hear this, will they
capture this, what is it u
are saying

now. If I could hear u
this is everything
I would send back: are
u, are we, how

are u hearing this, are you
hearing this, is
this, do not recall, do not
forgive.