after ‘Cozy’ by Madzia W
This I know:
once, long before
we found we weren’t ourselves
stuck at two different ends of the country
we listened to ‘Starman’ at the same time
and felt the same thing
between us, a voltage potential became;
on new year’s eve
when we danced in the rain
drunk and singing out of tune with your JBL speaker
a little font tipped over
our vibrant heads
and that potential was released into the night sky.
Can I say I’m queer?
Can you be queer if you don’t know how?
I’m waxing lyrical from a well of insincerity.
I’m a hundred dead canaries in a trench coat.
But this I know:
it’s January
I’m about to get carsick
leaning too far back in the passenger seat—
your salt-crusted fingers touch mine
sun slipping up my dress at the knee
I should sit up but my body’s too spent
from the Piha waves
my insides slurry
my head in the clouds I can just about touch—
when we get home I’ll lie down beside you
under the half-risen moon
the mosquitos will swarm
fuck it
let them feast!
Featured image, Cozy by Madzia W.
