Only Howling

Walked out of the moon into tangerine glow.
Bodies twisted for bodies,
human heat for human meat.
Glitter glided on our backbones
and my coiled insides were bathed
in drinks named for Spain.

The energy was safe and angels took turns
being angels.
My limbs swiveled,
legs lithe and twisted round the bars
of a vessel for freeing souls.

"You were made for the cage,"
someone whispered.
The night moved forward a wild warmth.

There, where heart once was in my belly
and will be again,
an orchestra of other chords tugged
the way only longing and effectuation can tug at once.

I awoke that night.
I awoke at 12:42 a.m.
at a bar in the back corner half-sober.
I awoke in the vibrato,
affirmations wailing;
in the dusky smoke speaking truths.
I awoke that night.
I awoke spinning--
my eternal breath only howling, "yes, yes,
yes."

-e. chayes 

-erica chayes wida