the way lies can curl– / a comma / in your pocket / but it don’t change / the skin you’re in / at the brink of crossing / make sure your slip / isn’t showing / somebody’s mama is watching

These hands / can ground down rock and gold / call a man sweet dusty, mold / knots of spit and hair like clay / until a baby’s head is perfectly round.

Grandpa knows / how to build southern porches / tall enough to see trouble coming; / the way the palm curves to the right / for the perfect bird call