Hozier playing when

we climbed

into the backseat of my car
parked by the oval on

Gay St – your idea,

we laughed and perhaps
I am naive for not

seeing it coming,

for missing it, 
turning to shut the door:

your slick-quick

undressing, how suddenly 
I gasp and gasp –

the single streetlight

filtering through glass
we are blue in this dark or

underwater which would explain

why I am breathless
the only heaven I’ll

be sent to / is when

I’m alone with you
it’s not like I have never

seen a bra never seen

breasts before, I have:
my body mirrored in

salt-water stories

and childhood rituals
eyes closed to the night

in theory, in practice

in milky dreams
see, I have been chasing

the moon my whole life

and now here she is
full and orange, glowing

until I am tide-bent, until

I am waxing golden
in the low lamp light, I was

free / heaven and hell

were words to me
my mouth opens in oblation

whispers, ‘oh my god, oh

my god, oh my god’


This poem cites lyrics from two songs by Hozier: ‘Take Me to Church’ and ‘Work Song.’