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1 " PRETENDING TO DROWNThe only regret is that I waitedlonger than a breathto scatter the sun's reflectionwith my body.New stars burst upon the waterwhen you pulled me in.On the shore, our clothesbegged us to be good boys again.Every stick our feet toucheda snapping turtle, every shadowa water moccasin.Excuses to swim closer to one another.I sank into the depths to see youas the lake saw you: cut in halfby the surface, taut legs kicking,the rest of you sky.Suddenly still, a clear viewof what you knew I wantedto see.When I resurfaced, slick grin,knowing glance; you pushed meback under.I pretended to drown,then swallowed you whole. "
― Saeed Jones , Prelude to Bruise
2 " THE BLUE DRESSHer blue dress is a silk train is a riveris water seeps into the cobblestone steps of my sleep, is still rainingis monsoon brocade, is winter stars stitched into puddlesis goodbye in a flooded, antique room, is goodbye in a room of crystal bowlsand crystal cups, is the ring-ting-ring of water dripping from the mouthsof crystal bowls and crystal cups, is the Mississippi river is a hallway, is leakslike tears from windowsills of a drowned house, is windows open to waterfallsis a bed is a small boat is a ship, is a currant come to carry me in its armsthrough the streets, is me floating in her dress through the streetsis the moon sees me floating through the streets, is me in a blue dressout to sea, is my mother is a moon out to sea. "
3 " to escape the wreck of someone else’s memory. "
4 " They die bright, fantastic deaths every chance they get. "