Fermata

inspired by Patti S.

i open doors, i close doors
mute light spread
from hanging lanterns

we fell asleep on the stoop
wrapped in mesh and Persian necklaces
while someone smeared blood
on my white Easter dress

there was blue ink tattoos on the webbed
skin between your fingers when
you told me “we make art
because we have to”

*

Somewhere in Paris a bug
flew into your open mouth
And I woke up humming,

I memorized the lyrics to
“love will keep us together” with
mud on my feet
while you were wading in
the streams at Delphi,

and heard your recordings from Harar-
a woman’s voice- a mythic crying out
all sand
and pastel
and you-
the salt christ
you-
feeding hyena’s behind the mosque

but at the time i hardly recognized these as moments

i still wear on my wrist his fermata-
a cyclops eye, a grand pause of infinite duration
offering my skin to Saint Cecilia,
telling me to hold this note longer than it’s worth.