Poems
Rufus, I never met you, but I want to tell you
For Rufus Wainright
this cup
(you can’t see it)
could be my brother
or my sister
it’s empty
but you can still see the ring inside
the height
to which a thing within its walls could rise
before leaking
out the bottom
you have two choices:
to believe nothing
or everything I tell you
did I have a choice
when a stranger
the Bible tells me is my brother
picked me up
with a sweet smile and clammy palms
to drink me
tell me yes and I’ll sing Hallelujah
pick up that cup over there
(one with the smears’ could be my sister)
and smash her
From Song of My Softening (Alice James Books, 2024). Reprinted with the permission of the poet and publisher.