CHOISELLE JOSEPH
bi·sex·u·al
/bīˈsekSH(əw)əl/
noun
as in liar
that night when you were twelve
with a pillow over your eyes
as you begged yourself for sleep
and winced away the thought
of how soft her skin might be
her cupid’s bow ringing in your skull
like a migraine ringing like
FIREANDBRIMSTONE
FIREANDBRIMSTONE
FIREANDBRIMSTONE
Pastor’s face clawed with sweat streaks
growl flinging spit and cracking
like guitar distortion
around you raised hands trembling
and praising your condemnation
Yes Lord’s and Hallelujah’s
quivering over cymbal crashes
feet stomping merciless
between the hardwood pews
as you mimed to I Sing Because I’m Happy
your voice blocked by a word
lodged in your throat a word even then
you didn’t know belonged to you
