SAYAT-NOVA

dates from Baghdad's airport
fatly nested in paper sleeves
all that city's sweetness
in our stomachs far away     not there

chew another before the first is swallowed and
look to the sea!
look away from the sea!    

sunlight                on paper face
sunlight                on telephone wire
sunlight                a puddle    this ocean to nowhere
[where once i saw a turtle and never again]

sunlight
ceiling of orthodox blue of pressed powder of spilled ink
how?
the tiny window with its tiny colors and child's hand
i am elsewhere    my skin a buzz    

urinate while squatting
while buzzing 

here! a small saucer for your tears
a small cup of loam for your teeth
a wall of concrete sinks

i am not the same

and from your pocket your hand
and from your hand a small lamb
my lover     my thief
fish fat on carob leaf
kisses of fish fat
our velvet mouths

open dumb to close so sweet