36

Jack approaches the Queen,
Tells her that he thinks the
Aces are plotting to overthrow the king.
She tells him not to worry:
the deck is stacked.

My Prayers Have Become Ghosts (Thirty-Eight) (Title from a song by Varien)

My prayers used to be solid,
Sanctuarious friends
whirling happenstance
around the insides of my temples
old, sanctimonious dervishes
who breath comfort in like
respirator resurrections.

Now, they’re all withered,
lain down their tornado dances
to sleep in desert tombs
where they have manifested
as ghosts that hover by my bedside
begging to be projected at nothing.