I
You wake in the middle of the night,
                   make shape of the bedside lamp
turn the switch on with  your right hand uneasy,
                               wait for the yellow to fill the room
How familiar is this body, you ask
                    the moonlight concave, clothes restless on the floor
                           And you ask, what has become of you
Person that demands skin, demands shelter
                But from whom, favoring which location, lost in the moment
You think, everyone rids their sense of self
                     anyway, what difference is my discretion but appetite
                                      for argument, stupid in belief
In the discourse of purpose, I am
            just another body yearning for warmth
                         athirst ego in the sheets, unkempt in hiding.
II
What does affirmation sound like?
III
I have no use for vocabulary
                           this mouth endures what is expected of it
             except listen,
when the conflict starts all I take is what is in front of me
                   What else do I have to perceive
                                       but conclusion disguised as liberty
And listen, when you call my name all I hear is assertion
                                          Come on, you are better than subtlety
              bring forth your rage, burn the room curtains,
make me forget the function
                   of discernment, or worse—decency
                                     This is pleading.
I want you to completely refuse my silence as answer.
                      And I will speak only in gesture.
IV
How do we know if we have done anything right?
V
And when the time comes that we have to put out the fire,
                     what will we do?
                                I say, nothing. Just wait for the sea.
Watch people dance around our patio.
                                        Stay calm, see if something else comes out.
               Maybe smoke.
               Maybe more dancing.