Burn Theory

The highway ambers along the forest’s edge

as my skin hushes laughter with hickory trees

sunrise sunset as if earth spins just

to cut impossible blades of light

because my mother squints

wrinkled in places I hadn’t seen before

I’m in the backseat & she’s driving

but I want to be looked at

the way a neighbor’s house catches fire

silent then thrashing like the mockingbirds

godless on an empty stage

the way autumn flickered out

when the angels got sick

left us lavender & thread in paper bags

all suddenly possible with eyes sewn closed

catching heat lighting in splinters

because I’m two legs out the window

a fingertip pricked at the world’s burning outline

& I promise it feels good