Katie Tunning

first the angle of your jaw
your gaze unheld

a thousand locusts
manifesting appetite

shelter in the many-formed
code unrolling, chattering along

thistles in your cheeks
the scalding press

of day, impenetrable, my tongue
in the meniscus of your mouth

the gentleness from which
we deliver one another

grace resurgent, chemical
skin wet with rain allotted

wingspan of the thrush
your wristbone to my ear

listening for the ocean: measure
of nearness & salinity