sometimes
a white nightmare
forces a waking state
but even “larks and catydids”
must dream

sometimes
an ambition
is branded in the fat
and failure – the water to cool
iron

sometimes
dour desires
leave imprints on my eyes
(these nooses in my irises)
still, i

sometimes
build tokyo
in my mind’s eye; i try
and get the architecture right
and can’t