chasing daphne

by Damon Hubbs

Chasing Daphne

Of European fountains you were dotingly enamored,

the baroness who collected pipes and drains

the boom and bust of baroque drapery, bodily machines

Daphne youthed in Travertine

I embrace every tree in the West.

Grow my hair,

wear women’s clothes

to get an inch closer to you

my sweetly slutty princess days.

I’m out of breath from Paris to Marseilles

il fonce to rakish Rome,

what would maman say.

O Triumph spitfired with leaden arrows.

I am crowded and leaking strange relics.

Like a guerrilla war in high heels.

Isn’t the moss wonderful, darling.

*Originally published at The Argyle Literary Magazine

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.