A strange feeling to be lost
inside one’s own body
empire of organs
tributary of limbs
the tangled bundle of consciousness
unfurling
eyes, ears, mouth,
finger, hunger, penis—
more than anything else
the terror of being born
fully grown.
Muscles suddenly animated to motion,
windows of flesh
opened to the outside world—
upright, wingless
amidst thorns pests inedible plants
to feel pain but not as others feel.

In the garden
water burns as ice
bees attempting to pollinate his skin

and when he heard God calling his name

it was the word for
loneliness.