inscriptions



night has fallen.
in bed, i twist,
debris lodged in a wheel.
a thousand stars are
out tonight.
i'm reminded of our
last kiss, stark
on a black drop cloth,
white dot i counted
as one.  the sky bears 
so many others, each 
brilliant, unique, and
unbearable.  before coming
here, we pointed to a
map of constellations and
said, "Here."  laying out
the timing and paths of
our journeys, inscribed
the ways of i-ching.  knew
that now we would begin
to exist in darkness, silence.
but we also drew the place
where the haze of dawn begins
to catch each star, the zodiac
tilts above the horizon -- spirits
join in chorus.  alone, in bed, i've
seen the sun rise more times than 
the heart beats in this moment.



--jennifer crystal chien