Particular Words in a Specific Order

as if there might be cold creeping in to 
stray your smile in 
the pitchness of five thirty 

facsimile companionship jointed 
at the knee of two lost spirits 
somewhere back there 

these are the lessons we’ve learned: 

palace of stone, 
                  echo the stray roars 
                  of despot memories 
                  sate tyranny with property 
palace of glass, 
                  melt the innards 
                  of cruel forests yet keeping 
                  from us the wild 
palace of sand, 
                  cut the breeze 
                  as it presses upon you 
                  and break, when it is time 
palace of air, 
                  whirlpool those who 
                  would otherwise run astray 
                  capture them with wit 
palace of ether, 
                  stay silent, lest we all 
                  suddenly notice the 
                  material stitching you together 
 
  I know, because it is familiar 
  and familiarly frightening

2019