EDITOR’S NOTE: This poem is posted in preformatted mode to preserve the lineation and spacing. You may need to use the horizontal scroll to read the ends of lines. It’s worth it.
Michael J. Wilson
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You have AIDS have AIDS What if you could be purified in fire set from the feather of a phoenix #beautiful #epic #YOLO Aider, why aider why – The ad on Craigslist has the face of a famous actor superimposed on the naked torso of Colby Keller the ad says 6’1”blk/bl175lb8.5thickuc the ad says piss blood PnP 420 poppers must travel you host no fats no fems white only – Have + need – The ad says no bs the ad says pic or no response whow stop touch – Hand under shirt – to the piercing – in my nipple There is that moment when the world seems to spin out of control – when you could back out pant up + go out – into the cold – the moment before fucking before too late to think about – have AIDS have whow stop touch, aider whow – All our sexual life we have been afraid of getting having gotten had had having because that is what happens ask anyone – At the door to the building you pause take in the button you are about to press imagine – the scent – afterwards – on your fingers –
Michael J. Wilson‘s first collection of poetry, A Child of Storm, is out now from Stalking Horse Press. He is an adjunct in the Creative Writing & Literature department at Santa Fe University of Art & Design in Santa Fe, New Mexico.