Sally Blue

Bell your story for a warning, Sally blue
Stand with your toes curled 'round the weeds
Call for countries rising on the sea-thick winds
Hang a bell about your throat, Sally blue

Hold him close to your chest, let the snore tumble amen
Belly to nose, who never sang a hymn, Sally blue.
I'll dream those waves beneath the sky, rolling
Green above the sand, beneath the storm, roaring
In his snores.
We'll sway like weeds together, Sally blue.

There are fairies beneath the underpass
Hives below this concrete summer sky
Pulsing down my neck and shoulders
Heat thrumming like wings.

Where have we come apart? What seams were torn
While your dog was sleeping, Sally blue?
I'll climb the clouds that fall, cruel upon
The swimming cars, I'll make the melt
Of oceans
Water our weeds like faith, Sally blue.

Cry through glass and glimmer--
There were fairies in the underpass
Who sieved ocean through their wings
Whose only pulse was heat.

Who told you dogs dreamed faith, then breathed
The only rumbling hymn I've never learned
Sally blue? Stand and hold him closer
As he kicks away my salt-rimmed fingers,
Draw him near,
We'll dance the weeds one day, Sally blue.

Sharing this week with Poets United for Poetry Pantry # 411.