Adrift across your eyes’
rare green, my love,
we learned the ways
adults diversify love.
Good Muslims should speak
truth to their fanatics?
For this Christ got what?
Peter left to deny love.
I don’t care why
The Donald says I’m fired,
The Beatles tell me
money can’t buy me love.
Second amendment gun
American idol.
Our Pilates wash their hands
and crucify love.
Babies ourselves,
your breasts — untouchable.
We were two teens asleep
in a lullabye love.
Gay or straight,
ignore the wedding bells.
Neither church nor
state can verify love.
Keep your solemn protests.
Forget the rich.
Take care of the least
of Mine. Occupy love.
Obsession nearly drowned me.
Still I dream
Of how your honeyed loins
could liquefy love.
Elections come and go
like drunken brawls,
their partisan polemics
ossify love.
In faith I wrestle
naked angels all day
To get a blessed
dislocated thigh love.
We two together, mom,
my first breath to your last.
I sign this Eugene,
your only son’s goodbye love.
– Eugene A. Melino
Originally published in Eastern Structures No. 3, Vol. 1, 2017.
Photo by E.A. Melino, “3rd Avenue Flowers & Neon,” East Village, NYC, Summer 2018.