Lip Cherry Balm

The woman with the turtle tattoo
Says you have not
Enough moon in you,
You need to shed
Like a creature, a pound
Of your fire

Tiny dark pearls of peony
Rose water glasses and poetry
In paper squares
On wooden pegs
And lights underneath them

High on the breeze
Lip cherry balm
Way past its season
Side here with me
You don't need your faith
You don't need your reasons

Says the woman with the turtle tattoo
Tea of ginger and
Cranberry juice
You're turning the vinyl
She's dropping the needle in

And her eyes say
You've been here before
We leave a little love
At each door
You're just thirty three
And a third revolution

The woman with the turtle tattoo
Says you are a little light
On your moon
Your sun is an anchor
Afloat on your water
Never ever ever going down

And her eyes say
You've been here before
We leave a little love
On each shore
Even even if we are
A little unsure

High on the breeze
Lip cherry balm
Way past its season
Side here with me
You don't need your faith
You don't need your reasons

~ Brendan Bonsack 2024