"Meditations in an Emergency Intimacy" by blake levario
A poem from our Summer 2022 edition, the Illusions issue, guest edited by Jose Diego Medina. Click here to purchase the print edition and click here to purchase the digital version.
your hands being warmed above a burning cop car
the dress you stole being hoisted like a sundial
a desert eagle tattoo and terrible french movies
your death wish: going 90 in a 55 trying to make it to sleepy hollow
before the ghosts close the gates
does it matter whether or not you become that thing you wanted to be
imperialist firefighter ginseng leaf nepotism baby
yours mine jesus etc
your life is forever in transition
evening in the catskills / morning in peekskill
a train dares you to lie on the tracks
but tells you to move when it gets too close
making exchanges is what keeps you whole
a kiss on the cheek gets transferred to the pillow as soon as you rest your head
you sleep soundly
you dream and forget everything
—btw
someone has been shoplifting in this poem the entire time
don’t be a snitch
go outside and take a look around
if you think that beauty is everywhere
that’s because it is
if you think you see me in a car
falling in love with someone don’t
someone is shoplifting in this poem
be there for them
i’m with someone else
blake levario lives in New York City and has five Snoopy tattoos. Find him on Twitter @based_sicilian and more of his work at www.blakelevario.com
