HEAVEN- tarnished brightwave

in a splintered whining 
boat pushing grayed
water with our flaring rows, 
a harped breeze wrinkled the front
of my shirt.

“vine scored tree ahead, you 
duck when i duck”
and
“curdled rank, i’ll toss the thing”

rifle-shot clank of glass on wood then
rusted quiet. 

“you really shouldn’t” 
soft, scolding with cockeyed
smirk. 

then, quiet’s jerked return as 
a harped breeze wrinkled the back 
of your shirt. 


HELL- shitter

“disregard it. don’t bother.”
but already that fang-flecked
grief yelp takes stage. 

already, wind whips hard leaves
fierce across the water. 

“do i have to sit and 
watch you though?”
teeth bared and rough edged, 
a tired horse spooked 
by thundering crash.

already, hands spit sweat, 
hocked stress on the rough oar.