light// [verb] by Maddy Robinson
What is light, really// not as noun// or object// but as undoing// light// untangling rivers// easing into water// massaging photons into flowers// warming mantles// between mountain thighs// light// reeding// hearting// the resting place of my spine// kissing gold// beneath geological ambivalence// light// fingerprinting// earth’s pottery// pulling hickeys// through submerged photography// light// blazing strawberry// peeling citrus// through bruised nightmare// of deep sky. Black and blue and// light// sips miraging// the concave lip of grail// negative exposure// christmas foils// cornering mass into squares// light// synapsing// stones over smooth water// light// kiting scarves// fished from dark sleeves// bending lovers over taffy hooks// skinning mornings// fingering pages of sun// light. The only visit that mattered// he came toward me// forming mirrors// treble signature// of her tipping body// He did say// let there Be// whatever the opposite of what shadow is made of// withheld promise// in the ribcage of second chance// light// stalagmites// light// salivates through the window// venetian slit// leaning towers// threading filament// and eggshell silhouette// light// when he first wakes// chiropractic// yolk, gravity, fingers// bloodletting glowsticks// and mother earth had an orgasm// different when you’re watching// this is all just one slow death// negating rewrite. And this was never about us// because we can be anything// let me show you// light// thumbs// stiffs// grinds// scissors// writhes// but it does not fuck. Light// grasps// heaves// comes// but// it tops at fuck. Now// we could keep this// light// all between us// we could keep this. This is my love letter// we could write a poem about anything// it all makes sense// this thrill between us// starfire flint// making love ask permission// our grip on the electric fence// motion// elucidates// emptiness// and him// and light// and light// and light// light// light/l ight/are you even reading this—/ light// light// light//
Hear Maddy Robinson recite the poem on the Viewless Wings Poetry Podcast:
