a wall of noise at vassar, ’89

by Damon Hubbs

A Wall of Noise at Vassar, ’89

We eat psychocandy and gaze at our shoes

long before you disappear to study British Romanticism

everyone incendiary with Frank O’Hara, us too

like a snake wrapped around an axe in Côte Basque

we put arms beyond use, fuse damage and joy

a wall of noise at Vassar in ’89 makes our teardrops explode

we’re lost children on the move

we’re lost children head-on in love.

They bring soft axes to a summer picnic

dream of unpicking stitches of the galactic curtain.

Break it and take it until the goulash goes cold

like pigeons tearing a hole for the first crack of light

they have orange shirts with old-fashioned borders

but the sentry doesn’t shoot.

Lorca plays guitar and the sentry doesn’t shoot. 

Everyone is on the move, head-on in love.

Photo of Damon Hubbs

BIO: Damon Hubbs is a poet from New England. He's the author of the full-length collection Venus at the Arms Fair (Alien Buddha Press, 2024). He has also published four poetry chapbooks, The Day Sharks Walk on Land, Coin Doors & Empires, Charm of Difference, and The Railroad Poems. His work has recently appeared in Revolution John, BRUISER, Apocalypse Confidential, Farewell Transmission, The Gorko Gazette, and others. Damon's poems have been nominated for the Pushcart and Best of the Net.