Planted My Shame in the Backyard

Planted its bones beneath a blooming magnolia. Carried its head
past a split of fence. Did not ask why
the shine of remaining alive. Instead walked filthy
with my hands full of prayers. Delivered their blood
to the flask of shadow. Planted knuckles
and shinbones. Shoveled soil over
shards of the coffee cup
hurled at my face. Buried spatulas and gin bottles
and broken lamps. Used the flat
side of the shovel to pound it all down
into the loamy gash
holy dark as my woman gash
that has swallowed
and swallowed
to no avail
the fevers of this world.