tribe

a freewrite

this is for the sleepwalkers
we who wander the wet streets
chewing our tongues like sand
throats warbling at a half decapitated moon

our nails are scythes reaping
beergrain flesh and our teeth
are drunk with gnashing
we spend the night smashing
streetlights with our poems
that stopped begging to be heard
years ago

we won’t ask to be fed
but we’re hungry, stumbling
curbside and ragged and prideful
we howl in the ears of vacant
lovers who roll the silk of worms
between fingers before plugging
and we don’t blame them
for the silence is unbearable

we break our knuckles
on our sternums drumming
out a war song and pray
tears are all the camouflage
we need