Western Slinger Makes a Home


Never received a letter from you Shirley
till the one I got today.
Thought it was strange it coming this late
and after all the ones I sent
and left on the posts here
if you were to look to find me.
You left something short
and not much about our child.
Something in me says he or perhaps she
didn't have long in this world.
I've made a home now.
Not like the one you'd expect:
with a wife and wee ones.
I've come to live here alone
waking with the sun
and working
on the land and on myself.
After the first days I bought a mirror
and never did I see a fright.
I was god awful and wondered how you loved this man
and I shaved and cleaned these clothes.
Still trying to learn to sew
but that was always woman's work
till now.
I don't know if your heart's finally gone soft
or if your trying to soften my fall
but I won't make wanton and beg.
The sun is up early again tomorrow
and I've alright said my goodnights.
So it's best I sleep now and save this for a better time to send.


-Matthew Koutzun


To the man I walk forwards backwards for.


Continuation from:
Western Slinger Walking Backwards

Duvet

Duvet

and the sheets trailed after

pouring down the side of the bed

and splashing to the floor below

kicking and tangled

pulled down beneath them

gasping impact half swallowed

air lacking but abundant

and under bed and across floor

sheets puddle moist contact.

and the tide brought you back

knotting tender skin binding

burning friction on bounding

and covered thread on decency kept

drag us under post and bed frame

let its shadow create day for night

and tangled duvets heat hot

and cotton wick body sweat.

Drench and hold close

holding breath 

cause too bare

and wood panel pressed on back

cool clutch

cheek to surface

gonna whisper in your ear

tell you that your brow belongs there too

face down

we’re gonna take you

slipping sliding

and entangled

emerging to nightfall

returning out above

windows all open

gonna keep it fresh

keep the lights low

and tidy sheets again.

-Matthew Koutzun

Hope in the Prostitute Den

Hope in the Prostitute Den


Again
I've gone off to look for you
in places that won't hold.
Watching to see if I can inspect footprint
on carbon
with what might say you're here.


I went to the bordello to look for you
wanted to see if you frequented
those creatures.
Half brave
and fully nervous
if you see me you'll think the same of myself.


Maybe we're just bumbling here
hoping to catch each other
in some act
desperately trapeze-ing
to cross the boundaries we've created
with our pride.


I tried before
but it only wore each thread
and now I wonder
if your unwillingness to
commit again
is what holds the sword.


Great man on rope so high
wavering with large knife
and on threads too thin
I've set the ground beneath you
and moved mountain to raise it as well
so you may step down with me.


-Matthew Koutzun