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.