Ursa Major
Amy Parkes
For FR
My mouth to his mouth—
One day, the Great Bear will swallow the world.
She must always be watched.
We are not distant enough
to be safe.
His mouth to my mouth—
I show him his body inside
my body. We are ancient heat
flung out in a concussive rush.
Our smallest parts from the same sun;
he has for ever
belonged with me,
our brightness overwhelming.
Our brightness in answer to every
question made in my mouth—
Show me
the closeness.
I want you.
All of me?
and his mouth—
Here: his shoulders under my knees.
Our atoms were pressed together
before the sky knew auroras.
My mouth to his mouth—
His mouth to my mouth—
I will open my chest for him. I will open
my mouth for him, all his
salts on my tongue. Ours
this beautiful nova.
Ours the names
of the two hundred remaining
dark stars. Unwatched above us
and too near, the Great Bear
opens her mouth.
Cauldron Anthology
Each collapsing fragment.
I am a star falling.
Show me the constellation
made from our scattered bones.
From our bed, we see only
seven points of her light.
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