san vicente

manure hard packed
trowled into the dirt
grass shorn weed chopped
makes a hacked yard blush like a pitted cheek
fresh shaved and balmed
wetted turds turn to feed the flowers

an alley
and the blind of bleach
twirling suds
a heat of clothes boiled clean
slaps at the unlit street
red eyes braying
coughing caustic in the night
to sterilize the shadows

cactus and aloe
thick-thighed and purple
moist vascular plants
breathe warm like baked cinnamon
tangle into sweet air
light incense rises where the blue moth falls
and murmurs smokeful benedictions
to mollify the moon