GOTH COWS

THEY ALL STARED ME DOWN
BLACK AND GREEN UMBRELLA SPINNING
I SANG
TO GOTH COWS

SOAKING
I BOWED IN REVERENCE
WITH SINCEREST APOLOGIES
TO ALL THEIR KIN

SOME PURPLE FLOWER HID

I WAS SO TIRED
I LEFT THE KEYS IN THE DOOR
(REMIND ME TO NEVER DISCOUNT MY VISIONS)

GOTH COW,
I'M RUNNING FROM SOUL EATERS
AND POISONED SKIES

HERE THE ROCKS SCREAM
COLONIZER!!!!! COLONIZER!!!!!
BE WARNED
IF YOU DARE TO COME HERE
YOU MUST FACE YOURSELF

A BIRD FLIES INTO THE WINDOW.
THIS IS NO PARADISE,
THIS IS A MIRROR--
AND HERE LIES YOUR LITTLE EVIL

THE FERNS ARE SAYING SOMETHING
IF YOUR HEART IS EARNEST
SOMETIMES THEY PLEAD:
PLEASE DON'T GO
PULLING YOUR ARM INTO THEIR SWIRLING VORTEX
THE PULLING IS A PRAYER FOR A ROOTED REPAIR
BUT HERE THE RULE IS IMPERMANENCE.

AT THE NAKED BEACH FOR SOME REASON
KNOTTED PINES SWAYING NEXT TO PALMS
I SHOULDN'T HAVE COME HERE ON A SUNDAY
TUNING OUT THE VOICES OF WHITE DREADS
I WONDER IF THE URCHINS
CAN'T STAND THEM TOO.
IT'S LIKELY EVERY ANIMAL LANGUAGE
HAS SLURS FOR HUMAN

DIGGING MY SOLES DEEPER INTO BLACK SAND
I'M READING STORIES
ABOUT INCARCERATED DOLPHINS
MY TEARS FALL FOR THE SEA

WHEN WILL GRIEF GROW STALE;
CERTAINLY NOW THE CRUELTY IS BORING
WE HAVE SEEN THIS ALL BEFORE, AND STILL
THE OCEAN IS ALWAYS SWEEPING MY BAG AWAY

GOTH COW'S SUNKEN EYES REMEMBER MANY SKULLS
THE DEATH OF BROTHER BISON
IN ANOTHER LIFE
SHE WAS A WATER BUFFALO

SKINNY BROWN DOG
HEAD DOWN
DARTED QUICKLY INTO THE FERNS
LATER SPRINTED ACROSS THE FIELD
BECAME AN UNDESIGNATED SHEPHERD

ALL SEVEN GOTH COWS TURNED
AND FOLLOWED OBEDIENTLY
THEIR NEW TRAILBLAZING LEADER
A SHOOTING STAR
A STARVING SURVIVOR