Gene Hult
p o e t r y
Because
it’s over again here
we go anew anew angels fold
up spread blanket delicate paths forge
sunburn pillar of fire orientation
akin to weed sprouts know upside
down look who hasn’t known this
which generation lay in the dark praying
an eternal a salvation didn’t question
suggest righteous answer in rosebuds
and cigarette butts hand on soft cheek
laughing in corners like automobiles
well-tuned on sides of gravel road paved
over cyclical and breakthrough revolve
this never
again streak of sunset from a precise
irretrievable star pattern and scattering
molecules of love recombine and try
to get it better this time unless last time
chapter ends in a glory of wishing and
of oracle fallen haphazard and dusty ache
of growth wings interior smile twelve steps
to saving in a moment thousandth eyeblink
and never to be sure
on tiny airless island presumptuous
to like music and painful to shirk birth
duty of fingers and toes and eyes which
shift dark against sun to be true
endearing it’s not all against trivia
and world risen above suffocating
amidst abstracts no bread and water
and soiled minty kisses and odor of books
on a shelf rage rage focus through
pinpricks a period at end a comma
continues on no endings extras only falling
away to rain in steaming lake on jumping
fish and sloping mud of banks apology
not accepted drop potato if there is nothing
nothing can destroy nothing at risk nothing
here and now not thing to bring home to
mother and expect praise it’s nothing don’t
mention it not here not now yesterday
tomorrow get them confused get confused
zero is only zero we know it takes two
to tangle and branching trinity reaching
out over water it is enough for plenty next
false circuit as it rears raze ground but that
but that I loved that I need that how could
be seared fallow to its because
no more twist circle and stand back
right here we’re in for long haul
bumpy ride and there there’s the next
and covered by black veil it only
could be probably green

Gene Hult was the Managing Editor of the Denver Quarterly, and worked in children’s publishing for nearly 30 years. He has written more than 120 books published for children and young adults, mostly under his pseudonym J. E. Bright. His first book of poetry, Render, was released in July 2018 from Brighten Press. Please visit genehult.com for more information, or follow Gene on Twitter and Instagram @citysqwirl.