Sugar Hexany 

We’re already on dangerous ground — your voice does to me what

music does ; is what I mean when I describe spending time with

you … is spending time with the world , levántame baby in that

which shimmers . How walking through grass cleanses the feet —

the art that occurred in a vacuum ; minced divination … cleaning

up nice and looking , fancy . The way you lean against the wall

charging your phone — your palm and all the secrets I’ve ever

wanted ; to give jewelry to a woman who doesn’t often wear

jewelry … like seeing the moon on a full , clear night I’m all

aglow when you beat me to the announcement !

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New Stones in the Valley in Which We Live

God — give us splendid dagger mouths ; understanding of what

we’re waiting for … gray banks of identification , conspicuous

brothers and pools of serious astonishment . Soften my energy as I

repeat gentle into that ear another goodbye — I winnow the

expectation of heaven’s exigencies ; by the shoulder with a hand

… into salty diffuse light , guided by promises as trusting as a

hummingbird’s heartbeat . The mountain sunrise over this

Southern California valley is the venation of a translucent wing

settling — side with me now having told your story ; moved

throughout its bridges … isn’t it truthful like a handmade rug ,

among the ground of common names .

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Alex Rieser (he/him) is a Jewish-American poet and audiologist who holds an MFA from the University of San Francisco. He is the author of the chapbook Emancipator (New Fraktur Press, 2011) and has internationally published poetry, fiction, and literary criticism. His works have appeared most recently at The Poetry Foundation, Your Impossible Voice, Ploughshares, and others. More on Twitter.