i slip away from you
therefore i think i must be made of water
it is common for the dying man to turn to god
it happens often

lungs inside jars fill up with water
i am forced to breathe -     inexblicably!
i take a breath i am forced to open my eyes
a cardboard box, a matress with no stains on it
blue plastic, the edge of something sharp in the
corner of a room, i had forgotten
teeth marks on wood, i touch the ceiling
mold grows on the window pane; a threat
dust comes in through the screen door in
a living room sheathed in carpet

in the pool i breathed in too heavy the back of my
mouth stings and tastes so heavy of chloride
    i take a ride in a car, his car, your car, some car
somewhere i cannot remember
            i am
         so forgetful
             i am
        so good at remembering and you would think i
memorized everything, knees on padded benches
smell of incense i beg god not to tear you from
my arms i beg god i beg god yes he listened
i let go on my own and then i stopped praying

the dying man thinks of water,
it happens often
it is common for the drowning man to think of God

        and i  have seen him beg he begs he begs so hard
he shakes on the ground his organs on the outside
of his body, he wears a mask to work, to school
to church,  a mask with small holes for the eyes
he whistles "whoooooooo" who? Who? WHO?
he gets no answer from the mirror so then he turns
to ask god and god grabs his big book and
lets it fall on his head and he says now can
you hear me? the man nods, he feels pain
yes daddy, i see, i see it so clear now
papa, he cries, his head all ******
god is satisfied he says yes my child
the clouds soak up his blood like big cotton *****

         he takes off the mask he whistles
who? Who? WHO?
            he gets an answer

i slip away from you
therefore i think i must be made of water
it is common for the dying man to turn to God
it happens often