voyage

...to go where
       no man has ever...

i

heart circling
   beating heart for
uncountable lifetimes.

ii

drawn to the surface of
   your planet by
   forces much greater than
magnetism or gravity

eyes close
   anticipating...

iii

my instruments read
   no signs of
   mad water falls or
   steamy volcanic
expectations.

   only half-forgotten
   petroglyphs of
pain.

iv

trapped in this
   glass capsule––
   i wanted to name it––
heart

i meant to fill
   this space craft with
   soul, but it stinks like
   fear & chokes on its own
seriousness.

v

some say
   the way out is
within.

i say
   open the heart.

vi

am i dreaming this
   fairy tale for nothing?

i know you will find me
   even if it takes the next
forever.

vii

white lotus
   waits in the
   mud beneath the sea

speechlessly wanting to blaze red-
dawn.