[I]

 

that dream of driving backwards / out of control

—this is where it started

—me sitting on the engine cover

with my back

 

to the road

—drive train tunneling a future

just under my ass

ambulance / breadbox style /

 

so the back is open

—nobody there / just two torn boys / already covered /

tucked in /

masked with dusk and otherness

 

—me balancing / hand to driver’s arm /

as the road swerves / and blood flowers blossom

 

[II]

  for P.M. & N. B

 

two girls / later / were better linens

pure /

and unmarked

they came out of the ether / junior year

 

—out of skipping class / and

summer dresses /

out of quaffing diet pills / above the dam /

Tuesdays /

 

—out of chewing gum / and cigarettes /

out of Kools / and French inhaling /

to shroud

my living sophomore body / front and back /

 

with menthol / and ash / and healing

—their soft lipped wreckage / kissing mine

 

 [III]

 

and so the dream again / out of control /

—car wheel

heavy in my hands

—streets / down-sloped / crowded /

 

leading to water

—the harder I press the brakes / the louder

the engine’s torque

it’s thrilling in a way /

 

body vectored again / a runaway physics

—no sweet pocket of dusk /

no women /

to race ahead / to nest me

 

—just open water / car frame / speed

the body / solo / beginning to tear / and twist