The Moons of Neptune Như Xuân Nguyễn

 

The Moons of Neptune

Như Xuân Nguyễn

Triton I bet my body for my body. My sex becomes medical waste. Somewhere an insurance agent checks the paperwork. Purple orchids, yellow orchids, gifts. A machine vacuums blood from the surgical site. When the chaplain discreetly comes out to me, I confess. I ask the nurse on the night shift, “Is that the Moon?” The night before, my mother texted “Sorry, no.” I blocked her number. I told only one of my blood sisters. When asked what I wanted for breakfast, I said rice. I used a spirometer to keep my lungs from collapsing. I regretted not meditating with the chaplain. I was told no. I was told no. No one stayed but nurses. My surgeon loved how the flowers grew. Summer had passed and I bore a new weight.

neptune

 

neptune

Neptune

neptune
seated in the briney blue
hear me
i can't help but think of you
as something on the way out
salinity increasing
water's quiet whisper, bursting to a shout
no real attempts at ceasing
what we know in time will come about
here's to the future refugees
here's to the dead sure to die
here's to weather we knew once
to the tears surely to be cried

and one for the men and women in charge 

The Lady's Twelve Neptunes

 The Lady's Twelve Neptunes

DEAR PENPAL PEOPLE, happy August:)


purple moons and blond twins soon
talking horses and no gravity forces
jumping on cars and livestream of stars
blue dives hope and carrying yellow soap
the never ringing phone had rung and infinite questions in the air hung
mystic eyes danger and love of my life a stranger
I represent Lady Dream
and her fake lashes of gleam
a fantasy
hidden secrets in her world reality
in every color deceptive
subconsciously destructive
choose your perspective
she is not new
my haven in hours of few
on the mind
never understand what you find
now I sleep to see her poisonous skies
not to rest that one for the one who dies
nightmares my addiction don't be scared
called unravel of fallen hair
might do her a night stall
yet she leaves like a swift and crawls
now I know her stories are coming back in fear
been there done that since the end of last year
like signs flooded in clear waters
better than drowning with unknown ocean callers
I greet every era illusionary welcome
I carve every ranger in memory then run
walls in paths they deceive in glisten
the ferris wheel hangs and listens
sometimes we don't talk anymore
she throws ventures then struggles in store
masterminds wrapped around her finger they strive
Neptune rains diamonds and they cut like knives
she thinks before the sunshine we play a lying game
and I play along in absolute shame
she comes back with a curious mystery every night
and hello! sweet poetry from under my pillow then ignites

                                                           ------ravenfeels

The Moons of Neptune Như Xuân Nguyễn

 

The Moons of Neptune

Như Xuân Nguyễn

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Triton

I bet my body for my body. My sex becomes medical waste.
Somewhere an insurance agent checks the paperwork.
Purple orchids, yellow orchids, gifts.
A machine vacuums blood from the surgical site.
When the chaplain discreetly comes out to me, I confess.
I ask the nurse on the night shift, “Is that the Moon?”

The night before, my mother texted “Sorry, no.”
I blocked her number. I told only one of my blood sisters.
When asked what I wanted for breakfast, I said rice.
I used a spirometer to keep my lungs from collapsing.
I regretted not meditating with the chaplain.
I was told no. I was told no. No one stayed but nurses.
My surgeon loved how the flowers grew.
Summer had passed and I bore a new weight.