The Unprintable Word Beckons Me to Take a Seat

the first call is very nice
stretched out over the stratosphere
she beckons me into her ear
I listen to the sound of myself
rubbing up against my legs
purring
humming
the song I always wanted to hear
*
somewhere inside of the telephone
trembling in fear
its jacket coming off the sleeves
*
“I’ve never been inside here” she says
the electric canopy touches the air
vibrating
*
when I first came inside
all of the demons went away
leaving me with the book I never wanted
some day I’ll read it
when I’m inside again
*
“Are you aware of how you’re touching me” she said
lying against her like a napkin on a plate
the brush against the cymbal cuts slow into the meat
*
“I’m never going away” she says
and I just keep going down and down into the dark
*
the second call
is like the first
over the air
the prison sentence
almost forgotten
comes closer in
kissing the corner of my lips
*
“how are you” it says
*
when I first came in to the harmony
and all the peace
his boundaries exact
his rib cage seven pounds
the knife
exquisite
the brochure
filled with tears
I thought
surely now
when I come inside
you’ll know
*
she’s laughing somewhere in the background
but you’ll know all the secrets of the dark
his handsome features magnified
a demon earned tight
the reward for service
inside the telephone
*
“I’m going back inside” she says
the cloak over my back
up overhead
where the kingdom resides
its colored cardboard
in eighteen colors
Elmer’s Glue
Rubber Cement
Glitter
Sequins
Scheherezade
Her name means “child of the city”
(he’s never coming out)
*
the third call wasn’t like the others
knocking against my head
wanting to know why I’d picked up
who I was
how I’d arrived
what I intended now
*
I’d just sat down
with the leather against my back
and the sea acetylene
*
inside of my ear they’re counting down the years