matter
s t o n e s
when the letters are stones
dragged placed abandoned
s n o w
when the letters are snow
packed curved left
y e l l o w c h a l k
when the letters are yellow chalk
up on the blackboard
g r e e n g r a s s
when the letters are green grass
woven placed in shade
b a t
when it brushes arm-hair
in the cave's deepest black
g a s h
when the glass-slivers
bubble up from the trench of blood
—Joel Chace
____
Previously published in Joey & The Black Boots