KEVIN SIMMONDS
Kevin Simmonds is a San Francisco-based writer and musician. His latest book is
Ota Benga Under My Mother's Roof (University of South Carolina Press). His writing
has recently appeared in Cincinnati Review, Bellingham Review, Bellevue Literary
Review and Octopus. He wrote the text and music for Emmett Till, a river, a noh-
inspired play commissioned by Creative Work Fund scheduled to debut at Theatre
of Yugen in late 2013.
no need for salvation
we began as trees
no wonder we ache
for wine-filled branches
forgiven nothing
no lips for why
religion: you
god doubled
persuaded into skin
under the pads
of my fingers
gristle behind my knees
to bend
at your crotch
the flare gone up
to sky
no need for it
the sky
wild, there
wreckage is the lasting thing
||: so mean its music :||
whatever vows we've made
cello them
sink your vowel
into them
none of us are right
just made & by many mannered
& unmannered
fires
complaint: sushi
you frown at the wasabi
curlicued by an icing tip
japanese foodie you instruct
in civility
a dull dollop
of green-wicked center
simply that
for the pinwheel
suzuki
unagi
translucent ginger
seaweed straps
the gratifying shade
of restraint
none of it yet
infected by heat
until pressed
by wooden sticks
carried to flame
inside our half opened
animal
mouths
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