thesis from within, without by jacob wolos

my smoke-laden reliquary
where dirt, grass, and mulberry stained flushed little toes
and breeze-sailing gnats buzzed drunk and hungry
among the ashes of our growth

errant host of my own nursery
plagued by a means undeserving
that slithered and struck down a boy with his bite
who stole from him light
to suffer a man

my deciduous prophecy
to wait, silent for long
wading cycles through the dark
pulling teeth makes way
for swollen tongue to invite
words into space

i am
to flood the landscape with
candles
to keep a warm trace of
child
sick
for only
love, for only
love

fogging mirror, i write
she was there right beside
reflections belie their foundation
restrictions designed from the start

her heart is a silo
twisting its shape through the years
carouseled choices showcase faces
calloused, endured, held onto hope
for only love
for only love

• Electronic
• Folk
• experimental
• indie folk
• jazz
• poetry
• Philadelphia