St. Anne's Poem

Did I catch you in the flashes? Can I move to North Carolina with you?
Did I catch you in the flashes? Will this be our Kittyhawk?
Will we fly?
On a beach as brothers or lovers?
Did I catch you in the flashes? Were the flowers I sent you beautiful?
Did I catch you in the flashes? Am I a dead owl?
Did I catch you in the flashes? Give me the key to your room.
Did I catch you in the flashes?
It’s all I want to know.
Tell me.
Did I catch you in the flashes? Panther blood across my chest.
And you like me in red.
I remember when you told me.
Did I catch you in the flashes? In your room tonight I will sing you songs, in key.
My first song will crystallize your lungs like a menthol cigarette.
And the last will put you to bed.
Did I catch you in the flashes? Your eyes are tired.
Look at me.
Because you haven’t seen me like this.
Did I catch you in the flashes? I bet I did something right.
I’m swirling the anchor around my legs.
The captain has long been dead.
Tell me when to stop.
Did I catch you in the flashes? Are your eyes looking in mine?
Come on, cerebellum.
Send my bones in her direction.
Make me float through unwashed hands.
Did I catch you in the flashes? Do you love me?
I love you.
Did I catch you in the flashes?
There is an elevator that is slow enough for me to tell you all of my secrets in.
Did I catch you in the flashes? Can I come to your house?
Show me the Underground Railroad.
Did I catch you in the flashes? Where are you?
Show me.
I’ve lost you somewhere.
In the shadows and the party store fog.
Beneath the white urban hymns.
Beneath bleached hair and first time kissers.
Beneath heavy and empty soda cans.
Did I catch you in the flashes?
You bet I did.