Inspired by my recent stroll through lovely San Francisco — **For David Priggie and Alvin Kim** The Mix — the patio sizzling with various, savory scents and meats, casual shorts bulging with thick wallets, hard-ons, thighs tightened from a late afternoon spin class, marinating in crisp cologne, pungent from the fiery West Coast Sun David, taking another whiff of poppers…

irrational grief — in it I swatted the dark like a child swaddled in a curtain missing the call I wanted to snatch you before they led you offstage before the frightful sea of vacant theater seats separated us eternally in it that grief, fermenting in that poisoned drink they poured down my throat, my stomach aching at the thought of your barren eyes I wanted to run away with you chased down blueprinted corridors and hallways these phantasmal captors, blackened claws rigid as cadavers, daggers poised to sink themselves into us

a queer, creative experiment — Spring, 1992. That rugged man groaned, wondering if that vasectomy was worth the trouble no, it was too late it’s a boy it’s a girl it’s a queer he’s a fag he’s your son he’s a homo two strapping mijos one stunning mija another one suspended in a womb one steadfast…

Untitled Series — too often men like me, me I cringe when I see you kissing someone else too often you, men like you roam the dank, crinkled recesses of my mind too often men like you, you I try catching with my bare hands too often my flirtation feels like a snare, a…

happy pride — I stowed your empty glass of gin and tonic that one you said was too strong underneath the Tupperware cupboard more accessible than the tangled vines of plastic lids The lonesome wedge of lime shriveled and molded, wasted away I stowed your coat, jacket, and scarf reeking of pot, Hamm’s and…

Part 3 — **For Alvin, BK, Liam, Zach, Alex, Raequan, Mickey, Wes, and Char, to name only a few** when those chapped lips pinch that sweet, taut joint chapped upon chapped skin oh yes, it’s on the volatile threeway tension between Pikachu, Captain Falcon, and Ness truly marvelous you held yourself up pretty…

Inspired by Slint — Armona, California the proper way to rest, dive into the plush coffee tan wool coated with vivid emerald green greasy hair poking through the top where a pillow should be nostrils overwhelmed by the dizzying scent of Tide and fabric softener muffled All in the Family reruns merging with Kurt’s morose strumming…