in a few seconds, dusk will
hang over the sierra, heavy and syrupy
and the earth's musk will waft
with the breeze. baptized in the river styx
as a child, sucking a chill through
muscles and marrow, i fall limp into
asphodel arms and melt with
the heat of the phlegethon.
carry me
into hell, baby,
the words dangling on my lips like
boulders, lidded eyes crinkled and
lifted. singe me, baby, stoke it
until i cough up blackened cinders
of my heart
then, in a few seconds, the earth will
cave and consume the rot and moss on top
to feed the flame, the smoke gliding
in the graying skies. i will harbor the
charcoal and embers with a pink
smile. delivery to delivered to deliverer.