she thinks I stink of unearned sweat because 

I swim in homicide and trash and 

dream of stars. 

I breathe carbon dioxide and drink the flames.

she thinks

I’ll do whatever it takes

to not sweat tonight

I’ll kiss a cloud

and lick the earth

I’ll rest my breath

and wander my mind

I will not sweat tonight

I’ll find a church

and pick my skin

I’ll wear the black 

and think work a sin

I will not sweat tonight

I’ll blow a bubble

and float in wine

I’ll spin and sing

and touch the gold

I will not sweat tonight

And I do not sweat tonight

I’ll trip and fly

and tame my tongue

Yet

she doesn’t dance with me

and I choke 

on the low clouds of doubt

and cannabis

don’t want to prove I have legs by breaking them

don’t want

my fingers to bleed, when I play 

my music. 

don’t want

to drown

when laughter grows louder, tears fall heavier, 

loud and heavy as

thunder and rain

in rainfall she swims

I bob, I float, I bow

or I drown

or all my poems unpoem themselves