This Story, Unashamed to Tell

I used to perch at home

alone, in the tub with

highlighted literature,

music, this paper, pen.

Very much like right now.

I perched so soundless,

so

blue,

imploring God,

imploring the universe

of some

thing.

Maybe it finally gave me

something. Maybe I

impregnated the universe

with hope and our

friendship was born

from it.

Synthesized Sierra

Nevada, Camel Crushes,

and musical tears

helped emerge my new

universe.

You helped create

my new blueless cosmos,

always only blueless

for a certain

constituent of time.

I'll always carry

the blue I was born with—

[a genetic virus]

on my Shoulders like

Naomi Shihab's

metaphor for life.

"the world's most sensitive cargo"

But I could never tell

you this in person because

when I'm a poet, I'm not

one of mankind, but an

unstoppable idea.

You guys,

you

pulled me from the ether.

I thank whatever gods

may be,

the universe

for you.

Because I needed your

antibodies, your

antiseptic

nature,

to temporarily

fight off

the blue.