Custody                      


The year after the divorce
was a rein of knotted affairs,

your kids collecting tokens of diversion
from lovers starved for lust.

I used the zoo for distraction.

Caged animals, hungry tigers
pacing urine patterns too close to the bars.

On the carousel your oldest
gripped the plastic saddle
from the black horse with the gnashed teeth
she crys out "Gimme Up!".

Giving Head                

Neurologist lip
curled in idea,

handles feet, pricks tips.

That swallowed pain
rising behind the
eye: migraine

The diagnosis
old as
toast is.

eyes seemingly made       

of blood glass,
lower toward
bed at last.

All chemical attempts
to assuage
only float a descent

into heavy rest
or
Maybe death.