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DOUBLE MARS
May 13, 2024
We are both rust-red, storm-plagued,
painting our thin skin pink,
your chest cold under my touch.
Dust coats our lips,
dries our pointed tongues.
Sharp rocks speckle our spines,
this is our shield,
our shelter.
We cram into our half-planet,
where our days stretch longer
and live numbered.
My fingers trace your craters,
your calloused hands fill my canyons.
It’s hard for our brick hearts to love
when your wrists, and my thighs
bear the mark of the god of war.
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Mars takes three meanings in this piece. The first and most obvious is the planet and most lines are inspired by facts about Mars, for example, "half planet" since Mars is roughly half the size of Earth and "days stretch longer" since days and years on Mars are longer. The second is the Roman god of war named Mars, referenced toward the end. Finally, the title "Double Mars" references the symbol for gay men, two intertwined circles with an arrow pointing out of them, and provides context for the poem.