river mouth

by Tempest Miller

Down at the river mouth

feeding the dog a bone he turns to liquid

arriving with a mahogany scent

with bells

with a birthmark

a crown of bones

on the folly over the water

a bearded man dragging a bag of coins up the beach land

the waves spray

unbridled against the galleon loaded with coffins

I have the salt on my ribs until nightfall

a new year ushered in

with dogs and the smell of cake and fish

the hoops of my majestic jacket unbound

I go to sleep early

and my heart thumps the whole bed

searching for the poet’s passion

not yet in love

not yet a Lord among the divine

but soon

he in the dark

the blood breaking from his valves

the world long

infinite

the sleepless nights encompass the full universe

my heart throbbing

rested on a dark, lonely mattress

Photo of Tempest Miller

BIO: Tempest Miller (he/him) is a queer writer from the UK. He publishes a monthly chapbook on Amazon. His work has appeared in JAKE, Boats Against the Current and Swamp Pink. His instagram is @tempestm1ller.