MISSOURI ELEGY

By Kurn Sundaram

river through skull
red wraps me 

never sisters 

castle 
becomes crown
becomes sun 

teach me 
as if 
it’s all you know 

light bends 
before i do 

my father 
never swam 

you drink 
i play 
coins in the dark 

snow 
unzips the eyes 

the river 
forgets 
nothing 

your smile 
my burning 

tongue to cortex:
shield. sponge. 

we bloom 
then fold 

the door 
closed 

never sisters