Kaveh Akbar
PORTRAIT OF THE ALCOHOLIC WITH MOTHS AND RIVER
some moths don’t even have mouthparts using
only stored caterpillar energy
their lives are measured in days scissoring
tributaries for every you there
are a hundred moths luxuriously
dying their spirits spoiled by excess
only stored caterpillar energy
their lives are measured in days scissoring
tributaries for every you there
are a hundred moths luxuriously
dying their spirits spoiled by excess
what you lack and the punishment for your
lacking are the same paling tulips gray-
ing fingernails a body nearly stops
then doesn’t I have seen it a man slips
beneath a blanket emerges clutching
himself saying this is mine I found it
lacking are the same paling tulips gray-
ing fingernails a body nearly stops
then doesn’t I have seen it a man slips
beneath a blanket emerges clutching
himself saying this is mine I found it
rivers often do the same thing claiming
whatever they pour into cathedrals
gardens snakeholes do you see how afraid
I am for you all men are drawn to the
black water moonless the quiet drums a
name it’s not yours it’s not mine listen
whatever they pour into cathedrals
gardens snakeholes do you see how afraid
I am for you all men are drawn to the
black water moonless the quiet drums a
name it’s not yours it’s not mine listen
to make life first you need a dying star
this seems important with you so close to
collapsing yourself the mute swan’s final
burst of song I know you’ve tried this before
when they asked where it hurt you motioned in
a circle to the ground under your feet
this seems important with you so close to
collapsing yourself the mute swan’s final
burst of song I know you’ve tried this before
when they asked where it hurt you motioned in
a circle to the ground under your feet
Kaveh Akbar founded and edits Divedapper. His poems appear recently or soon in APR, Boston Review, Guernica, Poetry, Tin House, and elsewhere. His first full-length collection, Calling a Wolf a Wolf, will be published by Alice James Books in November 2017. Kaveh was born in Tehran, Iran, and currently lives and teaches in Florida.
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