True Romance

for Dale Herd

Who knows what it is
divided three ways
& konked out beneath the
palm trees hovering
wearing their (own) heartshaped vibrations
like silk

& standing at the velvet gate
slashed by x’s
“Why seek ye the living among the dead?”
they ask, as well they should

I paddled out at Staircase anyway
late in the day & no one else in the water

Staircase is closer to County Line
& Heavens is closer to Secos

father, son & holy ghost

late & early & in-between

legendary inside somebody’s neural tapestry

I didn’t realize there was blood
all down the side of my face

Someone asked me how I felt
& I said I feel fucking great