SECRET HANDSHAKE


she whirlybirds you
with her bony elbows bowed
you don't see wind
the way you taste her breathing

put a seed in your palm
put the seed in the ground
this is called growing
the rest is easy

shakeouts the rug from beneath
my hand-stand walking
the tattoo on my blind friend
is hard to see from a short block

if timed right you can fall in love
with everyone in enough light
or walk forever in a circle
sleeping when you feel scared

there are candles too we describe
smelling like things we think we know
the purple things that grow
the sand and wood and sitting water

so you fall out of it again
moving without seeing reason
why we climb onto each other
to trade warmth for lost air