forbidden knowledge

the garden
garter snake is back
again.
scales like sunflower
seeds
that
sleep inside the
basil leaves.

it stalks slowly
like
crystallized honey
and thaws
the frosty
thursday air
in measured
bifurcated tastes.

i sit beside
the
sliding glass panels
with pink sugared grapefruit
segments
for breakfast
and contemplate
the silent stance between us

it
lisps whispers
and stares 
with glistening obsidians
 that seem to swallow
secrets 

about
the skin
picked from
 palms;
life lines
flaked into
forks
and the palmfull
of blondes
aside the sleepless pillows

the
garden garter
slithers
inside
again
and seeps into
the walls 

sacred mornings

god spoke to me
this morning

through
burnt toast
and almond
coffee creamer
that looked like
his son

jesus
was in my
whole wheat
crumbs

that
flaked
into the
stainless sink
where i ate.

and i thought about that
stevie wonder song
about
talking to god.

and
about
the vertical crack
in my coffee cup
and how
spiders
can weave silk balloons
to fly

 but mostly
 how
most things can
speak
without words

it's like hypnosis

she has this
way

the way
she
slides my cold
palms into hers
and
smooths my stray
hairs
behind my ears.

the way
she eats popcorn
kernels
first
and saves the soft white
outsides for last

and
listens
to my breath
when
it is just us
and stillness.


and i am
transfixed
by her kiss
sweet lips
soft
ness
and secret

that
she
exists
for me.